# Accident 20000808040159A: Piper PA28235, Chester, CT, August 8, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2000, 17:30 local time
- Place: Chester, CT
- Airport: Chester Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3837° N, 72.5058° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHESTER (SNC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3837&lon=-72.5058&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8809W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8809W-2002-08-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28235
- Reported engine: LYC O540*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,700 total, 4 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000808040159A

## Narrative

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

(.4)ON AUGUST 8, 2000, ABOUT 1730 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA28-235, N8809W, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE LANDING AT THE CHESTER AIRPORT (3B9), CHESTER, CONNECTICUT. THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD LANDING AS PART OF A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW THAT WAS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE CFI. THE AIRPLANE WAS ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 17, A 2,566 FOOT LONG, ASPHALT RUNWAY, WITH A DISPLACED THRESHOLD OF 559 FEET. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ON "SHORT FINAL," THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A "DOWN DRAFT THAT GREATLY INCREASED THE SINK RATE." AS HE STARTED TO ORDER A GO-AROUND, THE PRIVATE PILOT APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER AND RAISED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED BUSHES AND A FENCE LOCATED PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. A WITNESS WAITING FOR TAKEOFF AT THE RUNWAY 17 "HOLD-SHORT" LINE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE LOOKED "LOW AND SLOW" WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. AS THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND TOWARDS THE FENCE WHICH PRECEDED THE RUNWAY, HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE "PITCH UP ABRUPTLY" AND THEN SUDDENLY PITCH BACK DOWN. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HEAR THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR, DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS, NOR DID THE PILOTS REPORT ANY. WINDS REPORTED AT AN AIRPORT ABOUT 24 MILES EAST OF 3B9, AT 1756, WERE FROM 240 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. (-23) INSTRUCTOR (CLARK) ADMINISTERING A BFR TO A/C OWNER (KIRKMAN). DURING LANDING, AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE AT RUNWAY THRESHOLD, SHEARING MAIN AND NOSE GEAR. A/C CAME TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY. BOTH WINGS TORN BACK TO AFT SPAR AT WING ROOT. MINOR INJURIES TO CFI.

## 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 NYC00LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA221), Aug 8, 2000: Piper PA28-235 (N8809W), Chester, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The CFI's delayed remedial action.

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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