No fatalities

18 Oct 2014: PIPER PA-24-260 — Everglades City, FL

Everglades City, FL, United States
SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing flare in ground effect, airplane floated, overran runway, contacted mangrove vegetation, and nosed over into 6 feet of water, coming to rest inverted. Substantial damage to left wing.

Incident Summary

A pilot reported that the flight was uneventful until the landing flare. As the airplane flared in ground effect, it floated and overran the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted in about 6 feet of water.

Pilot's Account

The pilot stated he could not recall if he applied power to the engine to perform a go-around. He reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.

Eyewitness Report

An eyewitness observed that the airplane's landing gear did not make contact with the runway surface. The airplane subsequently contacted mangrove vegetation at the departure end of the runway before nosing over into the water.

Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Landing distance — Not attained/maintained