# NTSB BFO93LA046: Piper PA-28-151, Sandusky, OH, March 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1993, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Sandusky, OH
- Location: 41.4559° N, 82.7144° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sandusky, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4559&lon=-82.7144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11914/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA046

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE TO THE RUNWAY, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PROXIMITY OF THE SNOWBANK TO THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FINAL APPROACH, HE '. . . WAS LOSING ALTITUDE. . . BUT FAILED TO RESTORE ENOUGH POWER.'  THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A SNOW BANK NEAR THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND WAS SEPARATED.  NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGAIC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7415352
- Airframe hours: 5901
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cesare Gnecchi-Ruscone
- Registered owner: Cesare Gnecchi-Ruscone
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 11, 1993, 6 hours before
- Departed: CYXU, LONDON, ONTARIO
- Airport: SKY, Griffing-Sandusky, runway 18, 2,593 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; foreign, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 234 total, 110 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLE, 30 nm away

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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