FTW94LA259

Factual narrative

On August 3, 1994, at 1330 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 sustained substantial damage during the landing roll near Booneville, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. During an interview, conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that the airplane landed long and went off the departure end of the 3250 foot long runway. He further stated that the nose gear collapsed as the airplane hit rough terrain and a fence. The left wing received structural damage. The Pilot/Operator report stated that the speed on final was 85 to 90 knots. Over the landing threshold at 50 feet above the ground, the pilot "cut the power" and during the flare the airplane "seemed to float." The airplane landed 900 to 1,000 feet down the runway and during braking, the airplane did not seem to slow. The pilot got off the brakes, retracted the flaps, and started to add power, however; due to trees at the end of the runway he changed his mind. The pilot then applied "hard brake and locked the brake" with 900 feet of runway remaining. The airplane ground looped at the end of the runway and slid to the right. The airport manager (statement enclosed) reported that the airplane came to rest 150 feet beyond the end of the runway with the left wing protruding through a fence. He reported skid marks on the runway and that the brakes appeared to lock 135 feet prior to the airplane departing the runway. The pilot stated that he landed long and had to apply "more than normal braking pressure to slow the aircraft." According to the airplane operator, the brakes were within the required specifications. THE SPEED ON FINAL WAS 85 TO 90 KNOTS. OVER THE LANDING THRESHOLD AT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE FLOATED AND THE TOUCHDOWN WAS 900 TO 1,000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY AND DURING BRAKING THE AIRPLANE DID NOT SEEM TO SLOW. THE PILOT GOT OFF THE BRAKES, RETRACTED THE FLAPS, AND STARTED TO ADD POWER BUT, DUE TO TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY HE CHANGED HIS MIND. THE PILOT APPLIED HARD BRAKING AND LOCKED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED, SLID TO THE RIGHT, AND HIT A FENCE. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WITHIN THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12