On October 14, 1998, a Piper PA-32RT (registration N39525) was involved in an aviation accident near Vidalia, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning by which he failed to obtain NOTAM information, and his failure to identify an hazardous/unsafe condition on the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported obtaining a weather and NOTAM briefing before a VFR flight, but no briefing record was found. Upon landing on runway 24, the airplane struck a barrier, collapsing the left main landing gear.
Incident Overview
A pilot flying under visual flight rules (VFR) stated that he obtained a weather and NOTAM briefing prior to departure. However, coordination with FAA Automated Flight Service Stations revealed no record of such a briefing having been provided to the accident pilot. The destination airport had a NOTAM issued three months before the accident that closed runway 24. After landing on runway 24, the airplane collided with a barrier, causing the left main landing gear to collapse.
Runway Condition
Following the accident, the FAA examined the runway and determined that the closed runway markings complied with required publications. The NOTAM announcing the closure had been active for three months prior to the event.
Investigation Findings
The discrepancy between the pilot's claim of obtaining a briefing and the absence of any record from FAA Flight Service Stations is a notable point of the investigation. No further details about the aircraft, injuries, or other circumstances have been released in the source.