# NTSB ERA25LA363: Piper PA-32R-300, N47630, White Plains, NY, September 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 22, 2025, 21:00 local (Sep 23, 2025, 01:00 UTC) - Place: White Plains, NY · approach end of rwy 16 - Coordinates: 41.07168, -73.710568 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0717&lon=-73.7106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 18, 2025 - 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): 201710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA363 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201710/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201710 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA363 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in a collision with the runway lighting system. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s momentary disorientation due to glare from the runway approach lighting system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/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-32R-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7103213), [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. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane in night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that during the turn to final approach, the tower air traffic controller cleared a large transport-category airplane for departure. To avoid potential wake turbulence, the pilot adjusted the planned touchdown point to be before the expected rotation point of the departing airplane. While reconfiguring for the new touchdown point, the pilot encountered glare from the runway approach lighting system, which temporarily degraded his night vision and momentary disoriented him. The airplane then began to sink and as the pilot was making corrective control inputs he felt a “bump,” after which he landed uneventfully. Subsequent examination of the runway’s approach lighting system and the airplane revealed that the airplane had struck the runway lighting system before touchdown, resulting in substantial damage to the root sections of both wings and the right side of the stabilator. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47630](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47630), registered now, S/N 32R-7880016, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7880016 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-KIG5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2025, 29 hours before - Departed: MVY, West Tisbury, MA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HPN, Westchester County, runway 16, 6,549 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,165 total, 2,532 in this make and model, 3,108 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft - Temperature: 149 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: HPN ## 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 20250922017669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250922017669A), Sep 22, 2025: Piper PA-32R-300, Westchester, NY, Substantial damage. On September 22, 2025, at approximatley 2055HRS while on landing approach at hpn above mentioned aircraft did strike the 600FT, 400FT and 200FT and runway… ## Other investigations on N47630 (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 OAK78FVW05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVW05), Dec 8, 1977: Piper PA32R (N47630), Pahrump, NV, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201710. 10.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19629813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1_%20N47630_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector correspondence (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19602276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Accident%20summary%20correspondence%20LA363-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19630080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20LA363-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.