Piper PA-28-235 accident near Ocklawaha, Florida, October 29, 2023
On October 29, 2023 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-28-235, registered N9159W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ocklawaha, Florida (Woods And Lakes Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2023 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ocklawaha, Florida · Woods And Lakes Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235, built 1966 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9159W · registry record · serial 28-10778
- 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 he was attempting a second landing, after going around due to “heavy turbulence” on his first approach. He reported that he experienced a tailwind and the airplane floated before landing “longer than usual.” He applied the brakes but was unable to stop on the runway resulting in a runway overrun. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a fence resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (flare/touchdown) 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
- Flight time: 476 hours in all; 291 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 2, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,734.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2023; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,908 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 219 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEF Sebring FL at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 2,900 ft by 97 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; scat
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 12:58 pm from OCF, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOCF 291658Z 08007KT 10SM BKN036 28/19 A3009 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs | 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.