20050427034289A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-140 · Indian Head, MD · April 27, 2005

Date: April 27, 2005 · 16:15 local
Place: Indian Head, MD
Airport: Maryland Airport
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8730E
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC05CA076
Reported as: Piper PA28140
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 450 total50 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N8730ERegistration cancelled Apr 10, 2006 · Piper PA-28-140S/N 28-7625151 · Built 1976 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-140 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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) Aircraft was on a vfr-traffic-pattern final leg. Winds were reported as aligned with the runway in use, which due to the down-sloping terrain at the approach end of the runway, are reported to cause downdrafts on final. The pilot reported a loss of airspeed and altitude on final. The aircraft impacted trees and then the ground approximately 75 yards short of the runway.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON A VFR-TRAFFIC-PATTERN FINAL LEG. WINDS WERE REPORTED AS ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY IN USE, WHICH DUE TO THE DOWN-SLOPING TERRAIN AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, ARE REPORTED TO CAUSE DOWNDRAFTS ON FINAL. THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES AND THEN THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 75 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

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 NYC05CA076Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportIndian Head, MDThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance while on final approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.Apr 27, 2005 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8730E · 1

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

Accident 19760509011659AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Lafayette, LAPlt stated VOR & comm equip failed. Un locate arpt so lnd on road.r wg hit unk object.May 9, 1976 · Substantial damage