Piper PA-20 accident near Herlong, Florida, September 13, 2009
On September 13, 2009 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7705K, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Herlong, Florida (Herlong Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper visual lookout while taxing on soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2009 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Herlong, Florida · Herlong Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7705K · no longer on the register · serial 20-525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot overflew a grass strip, parallel to the asphalt runway to view the condition for landing. The pilot landed without incident. While transitioning from the grass runway onto the taxiway, the aircraft's nose gear got stuck in the soft terrain and the aircraft flipped over. The wing spar incurred substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 351 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 288 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacer N7705K LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KCRG Craig Municipal FL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: KCRG Craig Municipal FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 07, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KNIP, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.