The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Allentown, Pennsylvania
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Accident Number: ERA17LA267
Date & Time: 08/05/2017, 2230 EDT
Registration: N56884
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 2 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The student pilot owned the airplane and intended to conduct a 20-minute night, cross-country flight to a nearby airport for avionics installation. During a circling descent to the destination airport, the airplane collided with trees and terrain, which resulted in a postcrash fire.
Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The student had a total flight experience of 105 hours, of which 5 hours were at night. He had not flown during the 90-day period preceding the accident.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's improper decision to conduct a night flight and his failure to maintain adequate altitude during the approach, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's lack of total and recent night flight experience.
Findings
Aircraft
Altitude - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Personnel issues
Identification/recognition - Pilot (Cause)
Decision making/judgment - Student pilot (Cause)
Total experience - Student pilot (Factor)
Recent experience - Student pilot (Factor)
Environmental issues
Tree(s) - Effect on operation (Cause)
Dark - Effect on personnel
Due to his injuries, the student pilot did not recall the accident sequence. He reported a total flight experience of 105 hours, of which, 5 hours were at night. The student pilot had not flown during the 90-day period preceding the accident. The front seat passenger stated that he and the student pilot previously spoke several times about flying the airplane to N40 for required equipment (avionics) installation. The front seat passenger was also seriously injured and remembered only some of the accident sequence. He recalled the student pilot saying, "we are losing altitude, this is not good."
The rear seat passenger sustained minor injuries and recalled that the student pilot stated they had to complete a 360° turn before landing. The student pilot then adjusted the wing flaps and the rear seat passenger saw a red blinking light, powerlines, and trees. The student pilot then stated that they needed to climb, but they were not climbing. The student pilot subsequently remarked that he thought he saw the problem and adjusted the wing flaps again. The rear seat passenger did not recall the impact.
Review of radar data and air traffic control (ATC) communications provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed that the airplane was at 3,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when the student pilot reported beginning a descent to ATC at 2224. The airplane flew a track consistent with an approximate 3-mile left base leg to final leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 7, at N40. While on final approach, the airplane descended from about 2,300 feet msl to 1,300 feet msl as it neared the runway threshold (which was at 548 feet msl). The airplane then completed a right 360° turn and the last radar target was recorded over the airport about 2230, indicating a groundspeed of 70 knots and an altitude of 1,000 feet msl.
The wreckage was located about 1/2-mile beyond the departure end of runway 7 and had been partially consumed by a postcrash fire. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector was able to rotate the crankshaft by hand and confirm camshaft, crankshaft, and valve train continuity to the rear accessory section of the engine. He also attained thumb compression on all four cylinders. The inspector added that the passengers were not certificated pilots.
The student pilot's flight instructor reported that the student pilot attempted to schedule a lesson for August 4, 2017, to gain proficiency; however, the flight instructor already had a commitment. The student pilot then scheduled the flight instructor for August 10, 2017. The flight instructor added that he last provided ground instruction to the student pilot on February 18, 2017, and the student pilot subsequently completed a solo cross-country flight uneventfully during the same day.
The recorded weather at an airport located about 12 miles east of the accident site, at 2253, included calm wind, clear sky and visibility 10 miles.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 34, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/29/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 105 hours (Total, all aircraft), 105 hours (Total, this make and model), 35 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N56884
Model/Series: PA28 140
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-7425057
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/17/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2150 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3791 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-320
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: SMQ, 106 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2253 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Blairstown, NJ (1N7)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Pittstown, NJ (N40)
Type of Clearance: VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: 2210 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Sky Manor (N40)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 560 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 7
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2900 ft / 50 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 40.407500, -74.966111
NTSB Identification: ERA17LA267
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 05, 2017 in Pittstown, NJ
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-140, registration: N56884
Injuries: 2 Serious, 1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 5, 2017, about 2242 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N56884 was substantially damaged during a collision with trees and terrain, while on approach to Sky Manor (N40), Pittstown, New Jersey. The student pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, while the other passenger received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Blairstown Airport (1N7), Blairstown, New Jersey, about 2215.
The student pilot and front seat passenger had been in an intensive care unit and unable to initially provide a statement. According to preliminary information from a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the three occupants were related, but neither of the passengers held a pilot certificate. According to the rear seat passenger, family members, and the student pilot's flight instructor, the student pilot had planned to ferry his airplane to N40 the following week with his flight instructor to have avionics installed. However, the three occupants had been at a family picnic during the day of the accident and the student pilot decided to ferry the airplane with them that night, instead of the following week with his instructor. Another family member drove to N40 to provide ground transportation back to the student pilot's home once the airplane had landed.
The rear seat passenger further stated that the airplane was in a circling descent near N40 when the student pilot noted red obstruction lights related to utility wires and indicated that something was not correct. The airplane then collided with trees and impacted the ground. The three occupants were able to egress before a postcrash fire consumed a portion of the cockpit.
The recorded weather at an airport located about 12 miles east of the accident site, at 2253, included calm wind, clear sky and visibility 10 miles.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
lucky fools. I hope they realize how fortunate they are and learn from this.
ReplyDeleteBusted, but still alive. Most likely will never get a PPL from the FAA now. Sad waste of a nice old Piper.
ReplyDelete"I am currently a Sophomore at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University working towards a Bachelors in Aeronautical Science. I am striving to get my private pilots license this winter, however everyday I continue to learn more about aviation." Student Pilot Kyle Dalrymple
ReplyDeleteWow how foolish and careless. What a waist. Student, not night-current and passengers at night.
ReplyDeleteI was a previous owner of this airplane and loved it. I still remember the day I sold her...a very sad day in my life. She was dependable, fun, and a great, GREAT little airplane. :(
ReplyDelete