- Date
- August 6, 1994, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Morris, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1074EBellanca 7GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 8954
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 misjudged altitude and distance, which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.
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
The pilot reported that during the approach to runway on final, he noticed he was too high, so he used full flaps. Subsequently he realized that he was too low, so he applied power, but the landing gear struck a 'snow' fence short of the runway.
Factual narrative
On August 6, 1994, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N1074E, contacted a snow fence and descended to the ground just short of the intended runway at the Oregon Hills Airport located near Morris, Pennsylvania. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and place of the accident. The personal flight departed Keller Brothers Airport located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and was destined for the Oregon Hills Airport. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that during final approach the airplane's altitude was too low. The pilot stated that when he realized the airplane was too low, he added full power. He stated that the engine "...coughed then went ok (may have applied power too quickly)." The pilot stated that as he added full power, the gear contacted a snow fence "...just as a stall occurred." After the gear contacted the snow fence, the airplane was pulled to the ground/roadway and came to rest across the roadway.
The pilot reported there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions that were causal to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1074E
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 977-77
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Tinkham, Bradford L.
- Registered owner
- Tinkham, Bradford L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 5, 1994
- Departed
- 08N · Lebanon, PA
- Destination
- PRVT · Pine Township, PA
- Airport
- PRVT · Oregon Hill, runway 36, 1,500 × 40 ft
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 889 total · 57 in this make and model · 818 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg