N2406U

On Thursday, September 2, 1993, at 1750 eastern daylight time, N2406U, a Piper PA-28-161, operated by Air Atlantic Airlines of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, and piloted by Duane Watkeys of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, sustained substantial damage during landing at Penns Cave Airport, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The local sightseeing flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot, on the downwind leg to runway 25, one of the passengers in the rear seat became ill. He stated that he expedited the approach by reducing the power to idle, lowering full flaps, and attaining a rate of descent of about 1000 fpm. He stated that upon flare/touchdown about midfield, the airplane bounced about 3 times. He reported that when the main wheels were firmly on the runway, he applied the brakes, but the airplane exited the runway and went down an embankment. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunctions and the accident could have been prevented if he had not expedited the approach which resulted in a higher airspeed and higher rate of descent. He also stated that a timely balked landing would have prevented the accident.