# NTSB ERA12LA360: Piper PA-28R-201, N6236C, Kingston, NY, May 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2012, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Kingston, NY - Coordinates: 41.985, -73.964164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9850&lon=-73.9642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA360 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83742/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83742 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA360 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees/foliage at an undetermined point during the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a local flight, the pilot briefly observed a “dark mass” in his peripheral vision and felt the airplane shaking. He looked to the left and noted that the left wing was damaged. He then returned to the departure airport and landed uneventfully. All collected evidence supports the likelihood that the airplane struck trees or some other foliage during the flight. Green-colored deposits that were initially observed on the wing leading edge later turned brown; concave depressions, oriented perpendicular to the chord of the wing, were observed on the wing leading edge; and pieces of wood were recovered from within the wing. Examination of the airplane and photographs showed no evidence of an encounter with birds or other wildlife. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2012, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N6236C, was substantially damaged when it struck an unknown object while flying near Kingston, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Kingston-Ulster Airport (20N), Kingston, New York. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed from 20N and after a brief local flight, was returning to the airport. While flying straight and level at an altitude "not lower than 2,500 feet", the pilot briefly observed a "dark mass" out of the corner of his eye, and then felt the airplane shaking. Upon further inspection, he noted that the left wing was damaged and that fuel was being released from the left wing fuel tank. The pilot continued to 20N, where he subsequently landed the airplane uneventfully. The pilot stated that he was uncertain what the airplane struck, and that following the accident he did not note any evidence of a bird strike. He also stated that he, “definitely did not hit trees.” According to a lineman who worked at 20N, the accident pilot approached him shortly after returning from the accident flight and asked if he wanted to see what a “bird strike” looked like. The lineman then examined the airplane and observed that the left wing of the airplane was covered with a green substance that did not appear to be bird entrails or bile. In looking more closely at the wing, the lineman observed some bark in the jagged metal edges of the damaged wing skin and observed tree bark within the exposed fuel tank. The green residue the lineman initially observed on the left wing turned brown on the day following the accident. The lineman also provided photographs the left wing he had taken following the accident, which were consistent with his stated observations. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors performed an examination of the airplane following the accident, and provided photographs of the damage they observed. The leading edge of the left wing was damaged at two locations, each displaying concave breaches of the wing structure that were oriented perpendicular to the wing chord. The inboard-most breach was about 8 inches wide and the outboard-most breach was about 13 inches wide. The inboard breach was co-located with the left wing fuel tank, and the tank was found absent of fuel. The outboard section of the wing, just inboard of the wing tip, was also crushed and dented aft. The wing skin was covered with brown discolorations of unknown origin. The inspectors cut away portions of the wrinkled wing skin in the vicinity of the fuel tank and found a piece of wood lodged in the bent folds of the skin. The inspectors also found another piece of wood that was previously hidden from view within the fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6236C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6236C), registered now, S/N 28R-7837151, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7837151 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Equipment Company LLC - Registered owner: Aviation Equipment Company LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 20N, Kingston, NY - Destination: 20N, Kingston, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 520 total, 80 in this make and model, 458 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: POU, 21 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 20120519010759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120519010759A), May 19, 2012: Piper PA-28R-201, Kingston, NY, Substantial damage. On may 23,2012 individuals from this office arrived at Kingston-Ulster Airport at 11:45 am. Aircraft left wing leading edge had gashes with torn aluminum.… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83742. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Airport Lineman (item 3, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371408&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Airport%20Lineman-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Damage to Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Airport Lineman) (item 4, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Lineman)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Close-up of Damage to Left Wing #1 (Photo Courtesy of Airport Lineman) (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Close-up%20of%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20%231%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Lineman)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Close-up of Damage to Left Wing #2 (Photo Courtesy of Airport Lineman) (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Close-up%20of%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20%232%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Lineman)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - FAA Photo of Damage to Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20FAA%20Photo%20of%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Wing Skin and Wood Pieces Recovered by FAA Inspector (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Wing%20Skin%20and%20Wood%20Pieces%20Recovered%20by%20FAA%20Inspector%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statements (item 9, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statements-Redacted.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.