Piper PA-601P accident near Luray, South Carolina, November 17, 1994
On November 17, 1994 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-601P, registered N22ML, was substantially damaged in an accident near Luray, South Carolina (Groton Plantation airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1994 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Luray, South Carolina · Groton Plantation
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-601P
- Registration
- N22ML · no longer on the register · serial 601P-0539
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BROKE OFF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. AS THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED TO A STOP, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THREE DEEP IMPRESSIONS IN THE GROUND WHERE THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY. THE FRACTURE FACE OF THE BROKEN LEFT GEAR ASSEMBLY EXHIBITED AN OVERLOAD FAILURE MODE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,417 hours in all; 311 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,546 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1993; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AA1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TBR Statesboro GA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from CAE, 80 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.