# NTSB GAA18CA291: Piper PA28, N5560W, Farmingdale, NY, May 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 21, 2018, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NY - Coordinates: 40.731945, -73.414443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7319&lon=-73.4144&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA291 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during short final, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102804), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, on short final, the airspeed was about 65 to 70 knots with full flaps, and he observed the two precision approach path lights indicating two white lights. The left wing dropped, and he did not hear the stall warning horn. The left main landing gear touched down hard, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The pilot reported that the airplane hit an "air pocket" and crashed. A witness, located on the ramp, observed the airplane head-on coming in very low and slow. He saw the airplane aerodynamically stall, and the right wing drop. The right wing impacted the ground, followed by the right main landing gear and then the nose landing gear. The landing gear assemblies separated from the airplane, which skidded to an abrupt halt. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, on short final, the airspeed was about 65 to 70 knots with full flaps, and he observed the 2 light precision approach path lights indicating 2 white lights. The left wing dropped, and he did not hear the stall warning horn. The left main landing gear touched down hard, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The pilot reported that the airplane hit an "air pocket" and crashed. A witness, located on the ramp, observed the accident airplane head-on coming in very low and slow. He saw the airplane aerodynamically stall and the right wing dropped. The right wing impacted the ground, followed by the right landing gear and then the nose landing gear. The landing gear assemblies separated from the airplane which skidded to an abrupt halt. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5560W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5560W-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N 28-653, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-653 - Year built: 1962 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FRG, Republic, runway 19, 5,516 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KFRG ## 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 20180521005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180521005719A), May 21, 2018: Piper PA-28-150, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. On 05/21/2018 at approximetely 2301Z, N5560W, a PA28, crashed at the begining of the runway cheverons during approach to runway 19 and came to rest on taxiway… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97297. 2.1 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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. --- 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.