Destin/Ft. Walton Beach Airpor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Destin, Florida 32550
Tuesady, November 23, 2010 19:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The instrument-rated pilot was executing a night instrument approach when the airplane impacted the water. The published approach minimums for the area navigation/global positioning system approach were 460-foot ceiling and one-mile visibility. Recorded air traffic control voice and radar data indicated that prior to the approach the pilot had turned to an approximately 180-degree heading and appeared to be heading in the direction of another airport. The controller reassigned the pilot a heading in order to intercept the final approach. The airplane was located in the water approximately 5,000 feet from the runway threshold. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear was in the retracted position and the right main and nose landing gear were in the extended position. Examination of the left main landing gear actuator revealed no mechanical anomalies. The pilot had likely just commanded the landing gear to the down position and the landing gear was in transit. It is further possible that, as the gear was in transit, the airplane impacted the water in a left-wing and nose-down attitude and the left gear was forced to a gear-up position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Controlled flight into water due to the pilot's improper descent below the published minimum descent altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/23/2010
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Destin
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32550
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 302510N
Event Location Longitude 0862850W
Event Location Airport Destin/Ft. Walton Beach Airpor
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 23
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 179
Weather Observation Facility ID DTS
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28835
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2011 8:54AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N548C
NTSB Number ERA11FA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 46-350P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4636322
Certified Max Gross Weight 4340
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 21 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 761
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name Coleman Acquisitions LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cedar Park
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78613
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Gregory Coleman
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cedar Park
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78613
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 No
Departure Airport Code NEW
Departure City New Orleans
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1822
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code DTS
Destination City Destin
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 22 2011 3:32PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --