On November 17, 2005, a Piper PA-28RT-201 (registration N2863X) operated by Maxine Turner was involved in an aviation accident near Bakersfield, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an accelerated stall and hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane landed hard on the displaced threshold after the pilot overshot the runway centerline during a short final approach. A post-accident examination found no preimpact anomalies.
Accident Summary
The airplane impacted the displaced threshold of the runway during a hard landing after the pilot executed a maneuvering correction on short final approach. The pilot reported making a slight S-turn to compensate for overshooting the runway centerline. During the flare, the airplane did not respond to control inputs and struck the displaced threshold, then skidded to a stop on the right side of the runway, short of the intended landing area.
Flight Details
Air traffic controllers had requested that the pilot make a short final approach due to traffic considerations, which the pilot accepted. Controllers observed the airplane overshoot the runway centerline and subsequently enter a steep bank in an attempt to realign with the final approach path. The airplane then descended rapidly and struck the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident inspection conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector and a local mechanic found no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. The accident resulted in structural damage to both wings and the fuselage, and the landing gear were sheared off.