No fatalities

14 Sep 2009: PIPER PA46 350P — Richard T. Smith — Chamblee, GA

Chamblee, GA, United States

On 14 Sep 2009, a PIPER PA46 350P operated by Richard T. Smith was involved in an aviation accident near Chamblee, GA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing to the accident was pilot fatigue. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot, ill and dehydrated, conducted a visual approach for runway 20L, touched down, and overran the runway, striking localizer equipment and substantially damaging the left wing. No mechanical issues were found.

Accident Details

The pilot conducted a visual approach for runway 20L after experiencing difficulty maintaining altitude and aligning with the localizer. The aircraft touched down and continued off the end of the runway, striking localizer equipment, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.

Pilot Condition

Post-accident investigation revealed that the pilot had been ill for several days prior to the accident. Medical testing conducted after the accident showed that the pilot was dehydrated due to the illness. Additionally, the pilot reported not having eaten anything on the day of the accident. The pilot was airborne for approximately 8 hours, including fuel stops and periods of maneuvering due to weather.

Medical Certificate

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot held a third-class medical certificate with a limitation for his diabetic condition.

Mechanical Factors

No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot or identified during the post-accident examination.

Contributing factors

PilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained