Piper PA32R accident near Flemingsburg, Kentucky, October 27, 2021
On October 27, 2021 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1984 Piper PA32R, registered N4363W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Flemingsburg, Kentucky (Fleming-Mason 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 failure to obtain the proper touchdown point or go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Flemingsburg, Kentucky · Fleming-Mason Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 301T, built 1984 · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4363W · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8429018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during final approach to the 5,002-ft-long runway, the wind was reported as light and variable. Just prior to reaching the runway, he felt a gust of wind push the airplane from behind and to the left. The pilot corrected to the right and it took longer than normal for the airplane to touch down, but the pilot believed that he still had enough runway remaining to stop. Once the nosegear touched down, the pilot realized that only about one-quarter of the runway remained. He applied heavy braking and the airplane began to skid. The pilot realized that the airplane was going to travel off the end of the runway, which had obstacles and a drop-off, so he steered left, off the left side of the runway. Both main landing gear collapsed in soft, muddy ground and the airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 349 hours in all; 338 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 349 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 15, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,611 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 2021; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 2,611 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN44 Lafollette TN at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from FGX
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFGX 272055Z AUTO 12008KT 10SM BKN020 10/06 A2995
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 30, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.