# NTSB GAA16CA427: Piper PA28, N2259Q, Hamburg, NY, August 11, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2016, 20:15 local (Aug 11, 2016, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Hamburg, NY
- Coordinates: 42.696666, -78.915275 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6967&lon=-78.9153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 22, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA427
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93826/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93826
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA427

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to perform a go-around, which resulted in a landing area overshoot, a runway overrun, a landing gear collapse, and a collision with a guard rail.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,387 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,100 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; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 810 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 overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 401 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,789 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that about 7 nautical miles from the airport he mistook a road for the runway, which resulted in the airplane being above the normal approach path for landing. The pilot further reported that he reduced power to idle, applied full flaps, and entered a side slip, but the airplane did not touchdown until about ½ to ¾ down the runway. Subsequently, the airplane overran the runway, the landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted a guard rail on a road about 550 feet beyond the runway threshold. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that about 7 nautical miles from the airport he mistook a road for the runway, which resulted in the airplane being above the normal approach path for landing. The pilot further reported that he reduced power to idle, applied full flaps, and entered a side slip, but the airplane did not touchdown until about ½ to ¾ down the runway. Subsequently, the airplane overran the runway, the landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted a guard rail on a road about 550 feet beyond the runway threshold. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2259Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2259Q-2018-11-06), registration cancelled 2018-11-06, S/N 28-7790385, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7790385
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 9052
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Western New York Flying Club Inc
- Registered owner: Western New York Flying Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 2016
- Departed: BQR, LANCASTER, NY
- Destination: 4G2, Hamburg, NY
- Airport: 4G2, Hamburg Inc, runway 19, 2,465 × 30 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 374 total, 206 in this make and model, 264 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KBUF, 16 nm away

## 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 20160810014259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160810014259A), Aug 10, 2016: Piper PA-28-181, Hamburg, NY, Minor damage. Pilot had trouble finding airport. When the pilot saw the airport the pilot commenced with a landing at a higher than normal airspeed. Pilot slipped the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93826. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 941 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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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