# NTSB BFO93LA154: Piper PA-28-161, N2406U, Centre Hall, PA, September 2, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1993, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Centre Hall, PA - Coordinates: 40.839885, -77.679389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8399&lon=-77.6794&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 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8802/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA154 ## Probable cause THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT RESULTNG IN THE AIRPLANE EXITING THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WITH THE BERM. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE LOCATION OF THE BERM. ## 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 - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE ON A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WHEN ON HIS RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT BECAME ILL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPEDITED THE APPROACH BY REDUCING THE POWER TO IDLE, AND COMMENCING A DESCENT OF ABOUT 1000 FEET PER MINUTE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN MIDFIELD AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE IN TIME TO AVOID THE EMBANKMENT (BERM) AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 60 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On Thursday, September 2, 1993, at 1750 eastern daylight time, N2406U, a Piper PA-28-161, operated by Air Atlantic Airlines of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, and piloted by Duane Watkeys of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, sustained substantial damage during landing at Penns Cave Airport, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The local sightseeing flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, on the downwind leg to runway 25, one of the passengers in the rear seat became ill. He stated that he expedited the approach by reducing the power to idle, lowering full flaps, and attaining a rate of descent of about 1000 fpm. He stated that upon flare/touchdown about midfield, the airplane bounced about 3 times. He reported that when the main wheels were firmly on the runway, he applied the brakes, but the airplane exited the runway and went down an embankment. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunctions and the accident could have been prevented if he had not expedited the approach which resulted in a higher airspeed and higher rate of descent. He also stated that a timely balked landing would have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2406U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2406U-1996-03-14), registration cancelled 1996-03-14, S/N 288016024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016024 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Air Atlantic Airlines - Registered owner: Air Atlantic Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 1993 - Airport: N74, Penns Cave, runway 25, 2,490 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,105 total, 167 in this make and model, 844 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: N74 ## 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 19930902033179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930902033179A), Sep 2, 1993: Piper PA28161, Centre Hall, PA, Substantial damage. Ran off runway. (.4)the pilot and three passengers were on a local sightseeing flight when on his return to the airport, one of the passengers in the rear seat… 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.