# NTSB ERA23LA364: Piper PA24, N400RW, Norwood, MA, September 7, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2023, 23:00 local (Sep 7, 2023, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Norwood, MA
- Coordinates: 42.18348, -71.171337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1835&lon=-71.1713&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 193025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA364
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193025/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA364

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to fly an appropriate glide path during the landing approach, which resulted in a collision with approach lights and the ground short of the intended runway.

## 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-24-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-24-400, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-400, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot and passenger proceeded on the cross-country nigh flight and on arrival near the destination airport the pilot stated that he was instructed by air traffic control to descend through class B airspace on a straight-in approach to the runway, which required him to descend at a rate of about 1,000 ft-per-minute. While flying the straight-in approach he indicated that he was, “a little behind on the aircraft as we descended.” With the lights and the runway in sight he descended too quickly on final approach and impacted airport approach lighting then the ground short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400RW-2026-05-09), registration cancelled 2026-05-09, S/N 26-63, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24 (400)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400) (registry code 7102408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26-63
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 3871
- Engines: Lycoming IO-720-A1A 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2023
- Departed: ACK, Nantucket, MA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: OWD, Norwood Memorial Airport, runway 35, 4,007 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 587 total, 39 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observed at: KOWD, 0.43 nm away
- METAR: METAR KOWD 070253Z AUTO 00000KT 8SM CLR 23/21 A2976 RMK AO2 SLP075 T02330206 50003=

## 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 20230906019329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230906019329A), Sep 6, 2023: Piper PA-24-400, Norwood, MA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to land on rwy 35 at owd in VFR conditions. Approach was too low (approx 100 ft) and aircraft hit last 2 approach light sections, damaging the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193025. 7.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16369188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Master%20Form%20Fm%20Web%204%206%202022-2_Recd%2011%2014%202023_11%20Pages_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of NTSB conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16392134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot initial statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16338043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Initial%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16392162&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 746 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16389781&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_1%20Pg_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.

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