# NTSB ERA10CA496: Piper PA-28-161, N260ND, Marlboro, MA, September 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 22, 2010, 18:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Marlboro, MA - Coordinates: 42.339168, -71.505279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3392&lon=-71.5053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA496 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77375/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77375 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA496 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper touchdown point and failure to perform a go-around in a timely manner, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he verified the wind direction and speed by observing the windsock before attempting to land. During the first attempt, he executed a go-around due to excessive altitude. During a second attempt, the pilot initiated a forward slip and landed the airplane two-thirds down the runway. After touchdown, he applied brake pressure, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway and impacted a fence, substantially damaging the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that it was the first time he had landed at the airport and that it was the shortest runway he had ever attempted to land on. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a go-around. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was returning to the rented airplane’s home base when he overflew the accident airport and decided to land. The pilot checked the winds by observing the wind sock before attempting to land on runway 32, a 1,659-foot runway. During the first attempt, the pilot executed a go around due to excessive altitude. During a second attempt, the pilot initiated a forward slip and landed the airplane two-thirds down the runway. The pilot applied brake pressure, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway and impacted a fence, which substantially damaged the fuselage and wings. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector identified no preexisting anomalies with the airplane. The pilot reported that it was the first time he had landed at the airport, and it was the shortest runway he had ever attempted to land on. He also noted that his total flight experience was approximately 90 hours, of which, about 6 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. When asked how he could have prevented the accident, the pilot stated that he should have performed a go-around if he was unsure that he could land and stop on the remaining runway. The operator who rented the airplane to the pilot restricted landings to runways which were at least 3,000 feet long. Winds, recorded at an airport 12 miles to the northeast at the time of the accident, were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N260ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N260ND), registered now, S/N 2842055, built 1999 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2842055 - Airframe hours: 6737 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Plane Nonsense Inc - Registered owner: Plane Nonsense Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: OWD, Norwood, MA - Destination: 9B1, Marlboro, MA - Airport: 9B1, Marlboro Airport, runway 32, 1,659 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 6 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: BED, 12 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 20100922044769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100922044769A), Sep 22, 2010: Piper PA-28-161, Marlboro, MA, Substantial damage. Pilot rented aircraft from east coast aero club at norwood airport. Pilot was returning to kowd after completing touch and goes at kbed and decided to land at… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77375. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338013&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Telephone Interview (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Telephone%20Interview-Master.PDF - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector Memorandum (item 3, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338014&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20Memorandum-Redacted.PDF - Weather Records: KBED METARs (item 4, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Records%3A%20KBED%20METARs-Master.PDF - Photo #1: Damage to Left Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo #2: Damage to Right Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338018&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%232%3A%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.