# NTSB BFO92LA077: Piper PA-34-200, N15109, Westhampton Bch, NY, May 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1992, 14:28 local (18:28 UTC)
- Place: Westhampton Bch, NY
- Coordinates: 40.829895, -72.65081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8299&lon=-72.6508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11800/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA077

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE LANDING FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - descent - excessive, dual student
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, dual student
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT REALIZED HE WAS TOO HIGH DURING THE APPROACH, SO HE REDUCED POWER TO IDLE AND THEN HE USED FULL FLAPS WHILE ON SHORT FINAL. AFTERWARDS, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THE AIRSPEED WAS 80 TO 85 MPH AND THE DESCENT RATE WAS ABOUT 1000 FEET PER MINUTE.  ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, HE EXPECTED THE STUDENT TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE BY ADDING POWER, BUT INSTEAD THE STUDENT BEGAN AN 'EARLY ROUNDOUT.' THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND ADVANCED THE THROTTLES; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE IT LANDED HARD ABOUT 100 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY, ROUGHLY 1000 FEET PAST THE THRESHOLD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15109](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15109-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 34-7350020, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7350020
- Airframe hours: 2204
- Engines: LYCOMING LIO-360-C1EG 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Dedalos Flight School
- Registered owner: Dedalos Flight School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1992, 7 hours before
- Departed: FOK
- Airport: FOK, Francis S. Gabreski, runway 6, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,200 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FOK, 1 nm away

## 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 19920525053039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920525053039A), May 25, 1992: Piper PA34200, Westhampton Bea, NY, Substantial damage. High sink rate on final. Student corrected by back pressure. CFI took over applied power. Too slow. Stalled.

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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