Everglades Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Everglades City, Florida 34139
Sunday, October 19, 2003 15:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he had just taken off when the forward baggage compartment opened, and he entered the traffic pattern to land at the same airport he had just departed from. He said the approach was normal, but while on short final the descent rate increased, and the main landing gear contacted the ground about 5 feet short of the runway. He said the airplane then bounced on the runway surface, and it continued about 1,200 feet down the centerline of the runway before the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane then departed to the left side of the runway and into the grass. He also said that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the approach to land, which resulted in him undershooting the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/19/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1540
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Everglades City
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34139
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 255055N
Event Location Longitude 0812324W
Event Location Airport Everglades Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X01
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID APF
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14793
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2004 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N198GM
NTSB Number MIA04CA006
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7440126
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 12485
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TCA Management Group
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15785 Boeing Ct.
Aircraft Owner City Wellington
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33414
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code X01
Departure City Everglades City
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code X01
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2003 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --