# NTSB ERA24LA350: Piper PA-24-250, N7531P, Shirley, NY, August 17, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 17, 2024, 15:49 local (19:49 UTC)
- Place: Shirley, NY · In field adjacent to airport perimeter fence
- Coordinates: 40.820532, -72.874062 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8205&lon=-72.8741&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 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): 194944
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA350
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194944/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194944
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA350

## Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive speed during the final approach, which resulted in a collision with a fence during the subsequent aborted landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the enroute portion of the cross-country flight was uneventful. He set up for an approach the 4,200-ft-long runway. He stated that he landed at the normal touchdown point, about 1,000 feet down the runway. When he applied wheel brakes, they did not respond enough to sufficiently slow the airplane. He then elected to abort the landing, but the airplane did not obtain enough lift and settled back toward the ground. The airplane contacted a perimeter fence and came to a stop in a grassy area. The pilot and the three passengers exited the airplane without injury and were met by first responders. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that there was substantial damage to the airplane’s wings, fuselage, and empennage. When asked to provide additional information about the wheel brakes, the pilot reported that he did not have an opinion either way whether the brakes malfunctioned. The FAA reported that damage to the airframe precluded a functional check of the brake system. A review of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast track data revealed that the airplane’s ground speed on final approach (about 625 feet from the runway) reached about 132 mph. The pilot’s operating handbook for the airplane specified an approach airspeed of 82 mph. Additionally, the weather conditions at the airport at the time of landing included 3-knot tailwind for the landing runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7531P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7531P-2025-12-20), registration cancelled 2025-12-20, S/N 24-2735, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-2735
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 4073
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 2024, 4 hours before
- Departed: MVY, Martha's Vineyard, MA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HWV, Brookhaven, runway 24, 4,201 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 956 total, 746 in this make and model, 780 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KHWV
- METAR: SPECI KHWV 171949Z AUTO 13009KT 9SM BKN013 23/19 A3001 RMK AO2 T02330189

## 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 20240817012029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240817012029A), Aug 17, 2024: Piper PA-24-250, Shirley, NY, Substantial damage. According to the pilot he touched down within the touchdown zone and while he slowly pressed the brakes he realized the aircraft was not slowing down as he had…

## Other investigations on N7531P (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC70F0064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70F0064), Jun 27, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N7531P), Ridgeway, PA, substantial damage

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194944. 23.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17810476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17811353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20ERA24LA350%20ROC%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB mor FAA correspondence (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17811239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20FAA%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf
- NTSB mor - khwv weather data (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17811459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20MOR%20HWV%20Weather-Rel.pdf
- ADS-B data (item 5, CSV, 14.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17810880&FileExtension=csv&FileName=4%2020240817_AA27B7_561632933_ADSB-Rel.csv
- ADS-B track kmz file (item 6, KMZ, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17811229&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=5%2020240817_AA27B7_561632933_ADSB-Rel.kmz
- ADS-B track - final approach (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17845329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ADS-B%20Track%20-%20Final%20Approach-Rel.pdf
- POH excerpt (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17811519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 9, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17812019&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Investigation%20Photographs-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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