Piper PA-28-140 N4397T accident near Houston, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point which resulted in an overrun.

NTSB analysis

According to a telephone conversation and subsequent written statement submitted by the pilot, during the night landing roll on runway 27 (3,455 feet by 40 feet, asphalt), the pilot was not able to stop the airplane. The airplane impacted a fence and vegetation at the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated that the runway surface was wet at the time of the landing. According to a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the pilot, the airplane touched down adjacent the fuel pumps on the ramp. An examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wings sustained substantial damage to several ribs and the spars. The fuselage and firewall were wrinkled. An examination of the airplane and its systems, conducted by an FAA airworthiness inspector, revealed no anomalies. Rain was recorded six hours prior to the accident; however, no rain was recorded just prior to the accident. Examination of the pilot's flight records revealed that he was not current for passenger carriage at night.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA237 for the full record.