20031012030459A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-180 · Dover/Cheswold, DE · October 12, 2003

Date: October 12, 2003 · 19:05 local
Place: Dover/Cheswold, DE
Airport: Delaware Airpark Airport
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5320L
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC04LA007
Reported as: Piper PA28180
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,428 total283 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N5320LRegistration cancelled Mar 16, 2004 · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-4623 · Built 1968 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On October 12, 2003 at 7:05 pm, a PA-28, N5320L, s/n 28-4623, operating under 14 CFR FAR part 91 flight rules, struck a power line pole approximately 1350 ft. short of runway 27 at Delaware airport, DE (33N). The height of the power line pole was 54 ft. and the airplane impacted the pole at 46 ft. the distance from the runway includes a 350 ft. displaced threshold at the approach end of runway 27. The airplane impacted the ground 100 ft. west of the power line pole, and was destroyed. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. A NOTAM was issued on September 29, 2003, for the hazard/obstruction lights attached to the power line poles being inoperative. This accident remains under investigation. Accident report will be amended upon receipt and review of ATC tapes.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON OCTOBER 12, 2003 AT 7:05 PM, A PA-28, N5320L, S/N 28-4623, OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR FAR PART 91 FLIGHT RULES, STRUCK A POWER LINE POLE APPROXIMATELY 1350 FT. SHORT OF RUNWAY 27 AT DELAWARE AIRPORT, DE (33N). THE HEIGHT OF THE POWER LINE POLE WAS 54 FT. AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE POLE AT 46 FT. THE DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY INCLUDES A 350 FT. DISPLACED THRESHOLD AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 27. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND 100 FT. WEST OF THE POWER LINE POLE, AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. A NOTAM WAS ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2003, FOR THE HAZARD/OBSTRUCTION LIGHTS ATTACHED TO THE POWER LINE POLES BEING INOPERATIVE. THIS ACCIDENT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. ACCIDENT REPORT WILL BE AMENDED UPON RECEIPT AND REVIEW OF ATC TAPES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC04LA007Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCheswold, DEThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path to the runway, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with an unlit utility pole. Factors related to the accident were the unlit utility pole, and the dark…Oct 12, 2003 · Substantial damage