# NTSB ERA22LA208: Piper PA-24, N6121P, Honesdale, PA, April 25, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 25, 2022, 10:06 local (14:06 UTC) - Place: Honesdale, PA - Coordinates: 41.519258, -75.252888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5193&lon=-75.2529&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105008/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105008 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA208 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the edge of the asphalt, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction due to a goose. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/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-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102402), [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. - [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was executing a 180° turn at the approach end of the runway to begin takeoff when she saw a goose crossing the runway near her position. To avoid the goose she relaxed the turn, and the right main landing gear wheel rolled off the asphalt in an area with a 4-inch lip. The airplane then rolled down an embankment resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6121P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6121P), registered now, S/N 24-1221, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1221 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 6025.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2021 - Destination: MGJ, Montgomery, NY - Airport: N30, Cherry Ridge Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,305 total, 1,155 in this make and model, 1,185 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KMSV, 23 nm away - METAR: KMSV 251356Z AUTO 13007KT 10SM OVC024 10/M03 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP242 T01001033 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105008. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13965153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GLORIA%20SMITH%206120_1_Recd%205%202%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversation (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 533 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13964589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Gloria%20Smith%204%2027%202022%20v03_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14133006&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15, and NTSB attempts to complete form (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14131834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form_and%20Wreckage%20Release%20Attempts_Redacted-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.