N3402Z

On September 28, 1997, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160, N3402Z, veered off the left side of runway 18, collided with a tree, and nosed over at Norton Airstrip in Belleview, Florida. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. No flight plan was filed for the local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed the time of the accident. The private pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Ocala, Florida, at 1500.

The pilot stated "at about 30 feet above ground level" he was long for landing and attempted a go-around. The airplane continued to descend and bounced on the runway. The pilot also stated when he pushed the yoke forward, to gain airspeed for the go-around, "the airplane collided with the runway and went off the runway to the left where the airplane contacted a fence and some trees".

During the wreckage examination, there was no disclosure of any mechanical problems with the airplane. A review of current weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing winds were 240 degrees at 10 knots with wind gusting to 15 knots. Runway 18 was the active runway at Norton Airstrip when the accident occurred.