Piper PA-24-260B accident near Archer, Florida, October 12, 2003
On October 12, 2003 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260B, registered N9291P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Archer, Florida (Peach Orchard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll/run, which resulted in the airplane veering off the centerline of the runway and impacting an object, incurring damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2003 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Archer, Florida · Peach Orchard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260B · all PA-24-260Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9291P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that during the takeoff roll he allowed the airplane to drift to the left of the centerline of the runway 18, and the left wing tip contacted a bale of hay. He said that the impact with the bale caused the airplane to veer about 90 degrees to the left and exit the runway, and after exiting the runway, the airplane impacted another bale of hay, which spun it further to the left incurring damage. According to the pilot, prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the airplane or to any of its systems.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,943 hours in all; 227 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,683 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2003; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL66 Archer FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: KPFM Panama City FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:04 pm from GNV
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.