# NTSB BFO88LA080: Piper PA-28R-200, N15948, Charleston, WV, August 31, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1988, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.370891, -81.559829 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3709&lon=-81.5598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11437/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA080

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS EXECUTING THE ILS RWY 5 APCH WHEN HE ENTERED FOG ABOUT 350 FT ABOVE THE DH. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, UPON REACHING THE DH HE SIGHTED THE RWY AND CONTINUED THE APCH. AFTERWARD THE PLT SAID HE DEVIATED LEFT OF THE LOCALIZER CENTERLINE AND AS HE WAS TURNING BACK TO IT HE INADVERTENTLY DESCENDED BELOW THE GLIDE SLOPE AND STRUCK A TREE. THE TREE WAS ABOUT 300 FT LEFT OF THE RWY, ABOUT 50 FT BELOW IT, AND ABOUT 300 FT PAST THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND LANDED ABOUT 2000 FT DOWN THE RWY WHERE IT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF IT. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT ABOUT 12 INCHES OF THE LEFT WING INBOARD LEADING EDGE WAS PUSHED BACK TO THE SPAR AS A RESULT OF THE TREE STRIKE. THE ENTIRE LEFT WING WAS TWISTED DOWN ABOUT 30 DEGREES. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15948](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15948-1989-03-15), registration cancelled 1989-03-15, S/N 28R7335110 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7335110
- Airframe hours: 4632
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1L 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kci Enterprise, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 1988, 99 hours before
- Departed: CKB, BRIDGEPORT, WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CRW, Charleston/Yeager, runway 5, 6,302 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total, 8 in this make and model, 195 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRW

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880831036239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880831036239A), Aug 31, 1988: Piper PA28R200, Charleston, WV, Substantial damage. Entered dense fog at 350FT AGL then saw runway. Off local. While correcting, left wing hit tree. Landed on runway.

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.

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