# NTSB ERA20CA282: Piper PA32, N4817S, Montauk, NY, August 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2020, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Montauk, NY - Coordinates: 41.075553, -71.921943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0756&lon=-71.9219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101779 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101779/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101779 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA282 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees. ## 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-32-260, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land the airplane on the 75-ft-wide runway at the destination airport. He reported that during landing, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind blew the airplane to the left side of the runway. He further stated he was having problems getting the airplane to settle back down on the runway and was afraid to advance the throttle due to being blown off the runway. The airplane subsequently struck trees off the side of the runway and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions reported at the airport about the time of the landing included a wind from 27 degrees left of the runway heading at a velocity of 6 knots, or a left crosswind component of 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4817S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4817S-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 32-1277, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32 (260) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-1277 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 11077.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2020, 8 hours before - Departed: HPN, White Plains, NY - Destination: MTP, Montauk, NY - Airport: MTP, Montauk, runway 24, 3,246 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 192 total, 62 in this make and model, 16.7 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KMTP ## 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 20200810018269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200810018269A), Aug 10, 2020: Piper PA-32-260, Montauk, NY, Substantial damage. Montauk, NY (mtp): N4817S, PA-32-260, hpn-mtp, landed and caught gust of wind and slid left off runway 24 into the grass. POB:3 no injuries reported, damage to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101779. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10104835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10103954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photo's (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10104700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.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.