# NTSB ERA11CA294: Piper PA-23-250, N4760P, Clayton, NY, May 11, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 11, 2011, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Clayton, NY
- Coordinates: 44.186943, -76.076385 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1869&lon=-76.0764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79083/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA294

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain a proper touchdown point while landing with a gusting tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the airplane was about to touch down when a gust of wind caused the left wing to drop toward the ground. The wing impacted the ground and skidded on the turf runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest and was engulfed in flames, which resulted in substantial damage. The airplane landed approximately 150 feet prior to the turf runway’s threshold. The wind, recorded at an airport 12 miles to the south about the time of the accident, was from 030 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane was about to touchdown when a gust of wind caused the left wing to drop toward the ground. The wing impacted the ground, and skidded on the turf runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest and was engulfed in flames which resulted in substantial damage. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident site, the airplane landed approximately 150 feet prior to the turf runway threshold. Winds recorded at an airport 12 miles to the south, about the time of the accident, were from 030 degrees at 10 knots with gusts of 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4760P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4760P-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 27-301, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-301
- Airframe hours: 4174
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2011, 45 hours before
- Departed: HWV, Brookhaven, NY
- Destination: 28NK, Clayton, NY
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 28NK, Ritchie Airfield, runway 25, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 230 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: ART, 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 20110511012219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110511012219A), May 11, 2011: Piper PA-23-250, Clayton, NY, Destroyed. Spoke with [privacy data omitted] via phone on 05/27/2011 at 1530 local. [privacy data omitted] Stated that he was flying from long island NY to Clayton NY on…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79083. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum For Record - FAA Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Watertown New York Weather (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Watertown%20New%20York%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347842&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Airplane At Rest Looking Towards Runway (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20Looking%20Towards%20Runway%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.

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