# NTSB CHI94LA334: Piper PA-28, N2283Q, Madison, WI, September 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1994, 19:30 local (Sep 18, 1994, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Madison, WI - Coordinates: 43.21001, -89.340393 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2100&lon=-89.3404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9687 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9687/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA334 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING HIS FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OPERATION PERFORMED BY THE PILOT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON A RUNWAY SERVED BY VASI, REIL, AND HIGH INTENSITY RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTING. HE SAID HE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD BECAUSE HIS '... LANDING APPROACH [WAS] TOO LOW... .' THE RUNWAY LIGHTING SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD NOT HAD ANY NIGHT EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S ACCIDENT REPORT FORM. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1994, at 1930 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 28, N2283Q, registered to the Badger Aero Club, Incorporated, of Madison, Wisconsin, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an off airport landing while on final approach to land on Runway 31 (5,846' X 150' dry asphalt) at the Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Sturdevant, Wisconsin, at 1900 cdt. The landing approach was made on a dark night according to information on the pilot's NTSB Form 6120.1/2. His written statement said his "...landing approach [was] too low.. ." The pilot said his airplane landed in a corn field about 200 yards short of the runway threshold. Runway 31 had a visual approach slope indicator system and runway end identifier lights that were functioning on the night of the accident. The runway edge lighting is high intensity lighting. The intensity of the lighting is pilot controlled. The runway's lighting intensity was not revealed on the pilot's NTSB Form 6120.1/2. According to the pilot, he had 13.6 hours of night flight experience. The pilot's NTSB Form 6120.1/2 did not show any night flight experience during 90 days before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2283Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2283Q), registered now, S/N 28-7790391 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28.7790391 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Badgerland Aero Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: C89, STURDEVANT, WI - Airport: MSN, Dane Co. Regional Airport, runway 31, 5,846 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 460 total, 9 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MSN, 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 19940917028069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940917028069A), Sep 17, 1994: Piper PA28181, Madison, WI, Substantial damage. Night landing with VASI REIL and high intensity runway edge lighting. Too low. Landed short. No recent night time. 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.