Piper PA-46-350P N345RP

Summary

On 14 March 1999 at about 20:50 local time, a Piper PA-46-350P registered N345RP, operated by Ralph F. Patterson JR., was involved in an accident near Laurens, South Carolina, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 March 1999 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Laurens, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Laurens County (34A)

Coordinates

34.4994, -82.0204

Aircraft

Piper PA-46-350P

Registration

N345RP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ralph F. Patterson JR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Darlington → Laurens

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL99LA052

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's disregard for current wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. Factors were the tailwind and wet runway surface.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, after the touchdown on runway 26, the pilot reported that the braking action did not appear to slow the landing roll speed and a tailwind was encountered on the roll out. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke, at which point the airplane climbed up slightly on the left side and impacted the ground. The airplane began to skid and continued off the left side of the wet runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane and a review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing winds at the approximate time of the accident were 020 degrees at five knots with gusts to 19 knots. The pilot landed with a tailwind component.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.