Incident Overview
On February 6, 2008, at approximately 1955 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, registration N140FT, departed from runway 6 at St. Augustine Airport (SGJ), St. Augustine, Florida, and ran off the end of the runway into the marshy waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained only minor damage. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 on a visual flight rules flight plan, destined for Deland, Florida. The incident occurred during night visual meteorological conditions.
Communication Sequence
At 1944:40, the pilot contacted SGJ air traffic control tower (ATCT) about 10 miles south of the airport, with ATIS information "Juliet," and requested a full stop landing. The controller instructed the pilot to report the inlet inbound for a straight-in approach to runway 31. The pilot acknowledged.
At 1948:38, the controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 31. After landing, at 1951:21, the controller asked the pilot's intentions. The pilot requested to taxi back and take off to Deland. The controller instructed the pilot to make the next left turn and taxi to runway 31, holding short at taxiway Bravo 4. The pilot acknowledged.
At 1952:51, an Airport 4 vehicle operator coordinated with the tower to use runway 13. The controller approved. At 1954:43, the controller phoned Lockheed Martin flight service station to update weather information.
At 1955:20, the pilot requested progressive taxi instructions. At 1955:36, the controller asked if the pilot was ready. The pilot confirmed. At 1955:43, the controller instructed: "Zero foxtrot tango, runway 31 at runway six intersection, cleared for takeoff left turn southbound." The pilot acknowledged at 1955:48.
Pilot's Account
The pilot later reported that he understood he was on runway 31 and cleared for takeoff. He completed the pre-takeoff checklist and began the ground roll. He then noticed he was on the wrong runway and attempted to stop, but the momentum carried the airplane into the marsh.
Post-Incident Events
At approximately 2013, the controller was alerted by a motion detector and doorbell at the base of the tower. A male voice stated, "I went off the runway into the water." The controller determined it was the pilot, who said he was "a little wet." The controller instructed him to remain at the base and initiated accident/incident notification procedures. The controller decided not to notify airport rescue fire fighting, based on the pilot's condition and her prior dispatching experience. The airport remained open.
At 2024:35, the Airport 4 vehicle operator informed the controller that the airplane was off the approach end of runway 24.
Personnel Information
The SGJ federal contract tower controller had been certified and qualified for her duties for 5 years. She received her initial certificate on July 5, 2003, and was certified for limited aviation weather reporting service observations.
Meteorological Information
Special weather observation at 2115 UTC (0215 UTC? The source says 0215 UTC (2115 EST)? Actually source says SGJ SPECI 0215 UTC (2115 EST). That seems inconsistent with 1955 EST. Probably a typo. We'll state as given: wind 240 degrees at 8 knots gusting 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 12 degrees Celsius, altimeter 29.97 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
St. Augustine Airport had three runways: 2/20, 6/24, and 13/31, as well as three sea-lanes. Runway 13/31 and runway 6/24 intersected, with 560 feet remaining for a departure on runway 6. Runway 6/24 was asphalt and in good condition. Airport field elevation was 10 feet mean sea level. The control tower, owned and operated by Robinson Aviation Inc., was open at the time of the incident (part-time facility, hours 0700-2100 EST). On that day, two controllers were scheduled, but one left at 1815 EST, leaving one controller on duty.
Damage
Minor damage was reported to the aircraft.