Sugar Loaf Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sugar Loaf Key, Florida 33044
Saturday, July 24, 2004 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sugar Loaf Key
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33044
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 243855N
Event Location Longitude 0813439W
Event Location Airport Sugar Loaf Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7FA1
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16760
NTSB Notification Source Airplane Owner
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2004 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4590F
NTSB Number MIA04CA118
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-151
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7715052
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Keys Recovery & Liquidation, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Troy Zinser
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sugar Loaf Key
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
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 No
Departure Airport Code KAPF
Departure City Naples
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 7FA1
Destination City Sugar Loaf Key
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2004 2:04PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --