Jimmy Carter Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Americus, Georgia 31709
Saturday, February 25, 2012 16:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was being operated on a maintenance test flight after the installation of some aerial spray equipment. At an altitude of about 75 feet above ground level, the airplane pulled abruptly to the right. Using the maximum available engine power and left rudder, the pilot maintained control of the airplane and landed on the closest runway. However, after touchdown, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and crossed a taxiway and a ditch before coming to rest about 300 feet from the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the midspan section of the right wing's leading edge had separated, several screws were absent, and the remaining screws exhibited signs of inconsistent torque.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a portion of the right wing leading edge, which resulted in the separation of the associated section of the leading edge during takeoff and the loss of directional control during the subsequent landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Americus
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31709
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 320638N
Event Location Longitude 0841120W
Event Location Airport Jimmy Carter Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ACJ
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 468
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1615 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ACJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 468
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.25
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) 30327
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 8 2012 3:16PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N59661
NTSB Number ERA12LA195
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-36-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 36-7760071
Certified Max Gross Weight 4400
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 4 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 280
Airframe Hours 7715
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHER FIELD AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City AMERICUS
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31709-8127
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SOUTHER FIELD AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City AMERICUS
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 31709-8127
Operator Code SUFG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number SUFG295I
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ACJ
Departure City Americus
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ACJ
Destination City Americus
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 8 2012 3:16PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 6011
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --