Jackson Hole Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson, Wyoming 83002
Friday, May 1, 1998 10:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he was 'breaking in a new engine' and he did not reduce power fast enough. The airplane landed long on runway 18, which was 6,299 x 150 feet, asphalt, porous friction course overlay. He said he realized he was not going to be able to stop the airplane on the runway that remained, and also realized he did not have sufficient speed to abort the landing. Heavy braking caused the left tire to blow out, and the airplane departed the end of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed when the airplane traversed a large dip at the end of the runway, and the airplane slid to a halt approximately 100 feet beyond. Airport officials reported finding 1,400 feet of skid marks. A light and variable wind was reported at the time of the accident. The pilot attributed the accident to his error in judgment. His recommendation: 'Always land near the threshold, leaving as much runway as possible. Pretty basic.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed, while approaching to land; his failure to attain a proper touchdown point for landing; and his failure to go around, while there was sufficient runway remaining. A related factor was the uneven terrain, which was encountered beyond the end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/1/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City JACKSON
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83002
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JACKSON HOLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JAC
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 6445
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 935 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JAC
Elevation of weather observation facility 6445
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6821
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) 162
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 1 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8536P
NTSB Number FTW98LA200
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-24-400
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-400
Aircraft Serial Number 26-117
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 23 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 2986
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARK SHERANIAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1950 QUIET MEADOW LN.
Aircraft Owner City MAPLETON
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84664
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PVU
Departure City PROVO
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code JAC
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 6299
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --