Groton Plantation Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Luray, South Carolina 21932
Thursday, November 17, 1994 11:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BROKE OFF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. AS THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED TO A STOP, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THREE DEEP IMPRESSIONS IN THE GROUND WHERE THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY. THE FRACTURE FACE OF THE BROKEN LEFT GEAR ASSEMBLY EXHIBITED AN OVERLOAD FAILURE MODE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/17/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LURAY
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21932
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GROTON PLANTATION
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 75
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 80
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 750
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1372
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 17 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22ML
NTSB Number ATL95LA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-601P
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-601P
Aircraft Serial Number 601P-0539
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 23 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 69
Airframe Hours 2546
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FOUR CAPTAINS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1600 WEST 3RD AVE
Aircraft Owner City ALBANY
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31707
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TBR
Departure City STATESBORO
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --