Piper PA-28-151 N4590F

Summary

On 24 July 2004 at about 14:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N4590F, operated by Troy Zinser, was involved in an accident near Sugar Loaf Key, Florida, United States. 4 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

24 July 2004 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sugar Loaf Key, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sugar Loaf Airport (7FA1)

Coordinates

27.7655, -81.6858

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N4590F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Troy Zinser

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Naples → Sugar Loaf Key

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA04CA118

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to attain the proper touchdown point resulting in a landing overrun and subsequent on-ground collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that after starting the engine at the departure airport he checked the brakes with no discrepancies noted. Additionally, no discrepancies were noted with the brakes during the engine run-up before departure. The flight departed and nearly the entire flight was uneventful with the exception of a momentary discrepancy with the alternator. The flight arrived at the destination airport on the base leg where he lowered 1 notch of flaps. The flight then turned final for runway 10, where he fully extended the flaps and maintained approximately 65. He reported landing within the first 1/3 on the 2,700 foot long runway and applied the normal brakes but later reported he, "...got nothing." He repositioned his feet thinking he might be pushing on the rudder bar instead of the brake pedals but again there was no effect. During the landing roll he contemplated performing a go-around but decided not to due to the length of the runway. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and collided with brush. After coming to rest, he and the passengers evacuated the airplane. After getting out of the airplane, he looked back and saw skid marks in the sand area beyond the departure end of the runway. He also stated that he was familiar with the accident airport as he had flown in there previously approximately 7-8 times. Following recovery of the airplane, examination of the brake system by the insurance adjuster revealed no evidence or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.