# NTSB BFO93LA028: Piper PA-31T1, N6192A, Pittsfield, ME, February 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 1993, 20:15 local (Feb 19, 1993, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Pittsfield, ME - Location: 44.7685° N, 69.3744° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PITTSFIELD MUNI (2B7), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7685&lon=-69.3744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 11900 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11900/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA028 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE A LANDING WITHOUT RUNWAY LIGHTS, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - airport facilities,in-runway lights - unavailable (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT TRIED TO ACTIVATE THE RADIO-CONTROLLED RUNWAY BOUNDARY LIGHTS ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY, AND ALSO WHILE HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE CONTINUED HIS DESCENT TO APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND USING THE VASI (VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR) LIGHTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AND' FELT WELL ENOUGH IN SIGHT TO COMPLETE LANDING.' THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES OF SNOW 60 FEET OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. HE SAID AS HE GOT CLOSER TO THE GROUND HE REALIZED IT WAS SNOW-MOBILE TRACKS AND NOT THE RUNWAY. HE TRIED TO GO-AROUND BUT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND COLLAPSING THE NOSEGEAR. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6192A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6192A-1996-02-07), registration cancelled 1996-02-07, S/N 31T7904009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T1 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t1) (registry code 7103126) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T-7904009 - Airframe hours: 3952 - Engines: P&W PT6A-11 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Cianbro Corp. - Registered owner: Cianbro Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 24, 1992, 100 hours before - Departed: PWM, PORTLAND, ME - Airport: 2B7, Pittsfield Muni, runway 1, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 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 19930218003059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930218003059A), Feb 18, 1993: Piper PA31T1, Pittsfield, ME, Substantial damage. Unable to activate runway lights. Believed saw runway. Landed in 18 inches of snow adjacent to runway. ## Other investigations on N6192A (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 MKC79FER53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FER53), Jul 12, 1979: Piper PA-31T (N6192A), Eveleth, MN, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.