N812WM – Piper PA 32-300 – 2008-02-25 NTSB Accident Report

On February 25, 2008, a Piper PA 32-300 (N812WM) was involved in an incident near Apopka, FL. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance/altitude while on the final leg of the approach.

According to the pilot of the Piper PA 32-300, the purpose of the flight was to deliver the airplane to the new owner. While on the final leg of the approach, "everything was normal and the approach was stable." As the airplane approached the runway he saw yellow water filled barrels, depicting the displaced threshold. Assuming he would clear the barrels, he began to focus on the runway, failing to maintain an adequate flight path and clearance with the barrels. As a result, the left main geared struck one of the barrels and "sheared it off," causing substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to impact.

This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC08CA128. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N812WM.