- Date
- February 22, 1994, 07:35 local (12:35 UTC)
- Place
- Berlin, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N23ALPiper PA-32R-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940222002769A
- Case key
- 8895
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot not maintaining clearance from obstacles (trees) during final approach which resulted in a collision with a tree and a subsequent uncontrolled descent until colliding with the ground.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
When the pilot arrived at his destination airport, he circled the airport to inspect the wind sock and runway conditions. The wind sock indicated near calm winds, but appeared to favor runway 05. The pilot said that because the runway is relatively short, he elected to approach and land in such a manner as to have as much runway left as possible. The pilot set up his approach for the runway and on final approach, the airplane's left main landing gear contacted a tree. The airplane veered to the left of the runway and contacted the ground. As the airplane was sliding to a stop, the left wing collided with a utility pole and was severed.
Factual narrative
On Tuesday, February 22, 1994, at 0735 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N23AL, owned and piloted by Albert G. Suber, of New Ark, Delaware, collided with a tree during a landing approach to Camden County Airport, Berlin, New Jersey. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Wilmington, Delaware and was arriving at its destination at the time.
The pilot stated that on final apporach the left main landing gear contacted a tree. The airplane turned sharply left. The pilot correctd his path but was unable to return to the runway. The airplane contacted the ground left of the runway and the nose gear was severed. The left wing of the airplane contacted a utility pole and was severed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23AL
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7780448
- Airframe hours
- 2,062
- Engine
- Lycoming IO540K15D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Albert G. Suber
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 22, 1993 · 114 hours before
- Departed
- ILG · New Castle, DE
- Destination
- NJ
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- 19N · Berlin/Camden County, runway 5, 3,100 × 45 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,071 total · 481 in this make and model · 955 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.