Grider Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 18:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, the landing gear was down and locked and the green GEAR SAFE light was illuminated. When the airplane touched down and the nose settled, the pilot heard the propeller strike the runway. The airplane skidded approximately 300 feet, then the main landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a halt. The pilot exited the airplane. Shortly thereafter, as he walked back towards the airplane, he heard a "pop" and saw a small fire under the firewall and in front of the wing. The airplane became engulfed in flames. The cockpit and cabin area was completely gutted. A mechanic examined the airplane but was unable to determine the cause of the landing gear failure due to the amount of fire damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Landing gear collapse for reasons undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1850
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Pine Bluff
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71601
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341023N
Event Location Longitude 0915608W
Event Location Airport Grider Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PBF
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 206
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PBF
Elevation of weather observation facility 206
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.81
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24480
NTSB Notification Source Little Rock Flight Standards
NTSB Notification Date Aug 18 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 6 2008 4:17PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Little Rock, Arkansas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6265P
NTSB Number DEN08CA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1373
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Aug 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 1920
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Carl D. Purnell
Aircraft Owner Street Address 901 W. 37th Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Pine Bluff
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71603
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Carl D. Purnell
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 901 W. 37th Avenue
Operator City Pine Bluff
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 71603
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PBF
Departure City Pine Bluff
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PBF
Destination City Pine Bluff
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 6 2008 4:19PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 5998
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --