Piper PA-24-260 N9396P

Summary

On 27 July 1997 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered N9396P was involved in an accident near Burnsville, North Carolina, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 July 1997 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Burnsville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Mountain Air Airport (2NC0)

Coordinates

35.9100, -82.2904

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-260

Registration

N9396P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Indianapolis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA218

2 people had minor injuries.

The failure of the pilot to use the checklist to confirm that the main cabin door was closed and locked before takeoff. Also, failure of the pilot to attain the proper touchdown point during the precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the self induced pressure by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before takeoff the pilot failed to verify that the main cabin door was closed and latched. After takeoff the door opened and he maneuvered the airplane to land in the opposite direction than for takeoff. He stated that he became distracted due to the perceived emergency and landed about 6 feet short of the runway on upsloping terrain. The left main landing gear then separated from the airplane which bounced onto then off the runway into a 25-foot deep ravine where the airplane came to rest upright.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.