# Accident 20000326004089A: Piper PA28R200, Lehighton, PA, March 26, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 2000, 13:15 local time
- Place: Lehighton, PA
- Airport: Jake Arnen Memorial Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8301° N, 75.7096° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8301&lon=-75.7096&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55820, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55820-2000-11-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R200
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 550 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000326004089A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 26, A 3,000 FOOT-LONG, 50 FOOT-WIDE, ASPHALT RUNWAY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHDOWN ON THE RUNWAY, STILL CRABBED APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES INTO THE WIND.  THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ABOUT 10 FEET INTO THE AIR AND BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE WITNESS HEARD FULL POWER BEING APPLIED TO THE ENGINE, AND STATED THE ENGINE SEEMED TO RESPOND NORMALLY.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB SLIGHTLY, ROLL TO THE LEFT AND DESCEND INTO TREES INVERTED.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A WOODED AREA, ABOUT 1,000 FEET BEYOND THE APPROACH END OF  THE RUNWAY, AND 625 FEET TO LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  PORTIONS OF THE WRECKAGE, WHICH INCLUDED THE MAIN CABIN WERE CONSUMED BY A POST CRASH FIRE.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.  WINDS REPORTED AT AIRPORTS ABOUT 20 MILES, EAST SOUTH-EAST, AND 31 MILES, SOUTH SOUTH-WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, WERE FROM 290 DEGREES AT 16 KNOTS WITH 21 KNOTS GUSTS, AND FROM 300 DEGREES AT 22 KNOTS WITH 30 KNOT GUSTS, RESPECTIVELY.                                  (-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AIRCRAFT AT LEHIGHTON, PA, AIRPORT (22N) IN A STRONG CROSSWIND. AFTER BOUNCED LANDING, PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BUT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT LANDED INVERTED AND PILOT WAS REMOVED FROM AIRCRAFT JUST PRIOR TO BEGINNING OF FIRE. AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC00LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA098), Mar 26, 2000: Piper PA28R-200 (N55820), Lehighton, PA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. A factor in this accident was the gusty crosswind condition.

## Other reports on N55820 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19781028027529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781028027529I), Oct 28, 1978: Piper PA28R200 (N55820), Chicago, IL, Minor damage. Pilot forgot to extend gear before touch down.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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