Piper PA-28-151 accident near Clarksville, Florida, November 3, 1997
On November 3, 1997 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N4502X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksville, Florida (Steep Head Farm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare and touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1997 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Florida · Steep Head Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N4502X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7615021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was faced with a 15 knot, occasionally gusting to 25 knots, crosswind to the single runway 1/19. The pilot's initial attempt to land runway 19 was aborted in favor of runway 1. Her approach to runway 1 resulted in a touchdown close to midfield in a nose down attitude that caused the nose wheel and propeller blade to strike the runway before the main wheels. The airplane came to rest within 50 to 75 feet of runway travel, bending a propeller blade, collapsing the nose landing gear and shedding the left main landing gear in the process.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 186 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 86 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAI Marianna FL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: FL15 FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,500 ft by 140 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from TLH, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.