No fatalities

15 Jul 2015: PIPER PA-28-151 — Laurier, WA

Laurier, WA, United States

On 15 Jul 2015, a PIPER PA-28-151 was involved in an aviation accident near Laurier, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate decision to continue the approach, which resulted in a long landing and insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane before it departed the end of the runway. 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

While en route, a pilot became unsure of his position and decided to land at an airport. The airplane touched down long and departed the runway end, colliding with trees and sustaining substantial wing damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot flying an unspecified airplane en route to a destination became uncertain about his geographic location. In an effort to reorient himself, he chose to land at an airport he observed. During the landing, the airplane touched down beyond the intended touchdown point. Despite applying full braking force, the pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it exited the far end of the runway. The airplane subsequently collided with trees, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.

Landing Sequence

The pilot reported that as he approached the airport, he committed to landing to determine his position. The landing roll was extended due to the long touchdown. Maximum braking was used but proved insufficient to bring the aircraft to a stop within the remaining runway length. The airplane overran the runway end and entered terrain beyond, where it struck trees.

Aircraft Damage

The wings of the airplane sustained substantial damage from the impact with the trees. No other damage details were provided. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

No Reported Injuries

The source document does not mention any injuries to the pilot or other occupants. The pilot was able to provide a statement regarding the events.

No Probable Cause Stated

The investigation source did not assign a probable cause for the accident. The pilot's actions during the landing and the decision to land are described, but no causal factors are identified.

Contributing factors

PilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedLanding distance — Not attained/maintained