N1544P

Substantial
None

Piper PA-22-135 S/N: 22-2407

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, July 16, 1996
NTSB Number
MIA96LA190
Location
GEORGETOWN, SC
Event ID
20001208X06320
Coordinates
33.360755, -79.289726
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid an obstruction on the ground (inadequate visual lookout) during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a collapsed nose gear and subsequent nose over. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and the pilot becaming lost/disoriented.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N1544P
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
22-2407
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
PA-22-135 PA22
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SMITH CHARLES R JR
Address
2935 SUN VALLEY DR
Status
Deregistered
City
SUMTER
State / Zip Code
SC 29154-7079
Country
United States

Analysis

On July 16, 1996, about 1016 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-135, N1544P, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing rollout during a precautionary landing in the vicinity of Georgetown, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, about 1 hour 16 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated that he became disoriented while circumnavigating weather with about a 1,100-foot ceiling. He made a precautionary landing to an open field, collided with a 5- gallon water pump tank, collapsing the nose wheel. The airplane nosed over and came to a complete stop inverted .

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA96LA190