Piper PA 32-300 N812WM

Summary

On 25 February 2008 at about 17:15 local time, a Piper PA 32-300 registered N812WM was involved in an accident near Apopka, Florida, United States. 3 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

25 February 2008 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Apopka, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Orlando Apopka Airport (X04)

Coordinates

28.7036, -81.5756

Aircraft

Piper PA 32-300

Registration

N812WM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bartow → Apopka

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08CA128

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance/altitude while on the final leg of the approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot of the Piper PA 32-300, the purpose of the flight was to deliver the airplane to the new owner. While on the final leg of the approach, "everything was normal and the approach was stable." As the airplane approached the runway he saw yellow water filled barrels, depicting the displaced threshold. Assuming he would clear the barrels, he began to focus on the runway, failing to maintain an adequate flight path and clearance with the barrels. As a result, the left main geared struck one of the barrels and "sheared it off," causing substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.