Piper PA-28-181 N9578C

Summary

On 26 January 2000 at about 14:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N9578C was involved in an accident near Ocean Reef Club, Florida, United States. 2 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

26 January 2000 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Ocean Reef Club, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Ocean Reef Club (X09)

Coordinates

25.0803, -80.4402

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N9578C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pompano Beach → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA075

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing after landing resulting in the on-ground collision with high vegetation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to land, he was advised that the wind was from 330 degrees with gusts to 18 knots. The flight continued and while either on base or final approach, he heard the flightcrew of a Falcon airplane announce that the flight was 10 miles out, inbound. The pilot of the accident airplane landed uneventfully and while back taxiing on the runway at a reported speed of 4-5 mph, the airplane turned to the left. He applied right aileron but the airplane traveled off the runway and collided with hedges. Examination of the runway by an FAA inspector revealed continuous skid marks measuring 45 feet in length from both main landing gear to the point where the airplane exited the runway. The skid marks begin before a 10 foot by 12 foot discolored portion of the runway. Following temporary repairs to the airplane, it was flown to where it was based and no discrepancies pertaining to the brakes were noted by the pilot; the brakes were not worked on following the accident. Additionally, examination of the fractured nose steering components revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.