# NTSB IAD97LA115: Piper PA-28-140, N557FL, Gardiner, NY, August 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1997, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Gardiner, NY - Coordinates: 41.679843, -74.179641 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6798&lon=-74.1796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 9, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28229 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28229/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA115 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to initiate a go-around. A related factor is the pilot's misjudgment of speed and altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command - object - wire,static - object - tree(s) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command ## Analysis During the final approach, the pilot was too high and fast, but continued his attempt to land on the 2,400 foot long runway utilizing full flaps. Witnesses stated that the airplane touched down at mid-field, and they did not hear the power being added to the engine until the airplane was near the end of the runway. The airplane became airborne and impacted a wire at the departure end of the runway. The right wing clipped a tree, and the airplane cart-wheeled to the ground. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the engine or airframe. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1997, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N557FL, was destroyed as it collided with trees and telephone wires during an aborted landing at the Gardiner Airport, Gardiner, New York. The certificated private pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed from Brookhaven Airport, Shirley, New York, about 1130, and flew to Gardiner Airport to go skydiving. He recalled that he was too high and fast during the landing, and utilized full flaps in an attempt to stop the airplane on the 2,400 foot runway. Realizing that he was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway, the pilot applied full power. He could not remember if he raised the flaps to the 10 degree position for the aborted landing. Witnesses stated that the airplane touched down about midfield, bounced several times, and was near the end of the runway when the power come back on the engine. The witnesses watched as the airplane got airborne and impacted wires off the departure end of the runway. Its right wing clipped a tree, and the airplane cart-wheeled to the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage and surveyed the debris field. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunction with the engine or airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N557FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N557FL-1998-10-26), registration cancelled 1998-10-26, S/N 287125397 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7125397 - Airframe hours: 5441 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Trval - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1996, 12 hours before - Departed: HWV, SHIRLEY, NY - Destination: 5NY5 - Airport: 5NY5, Gardiner, runway 27, 2,400 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 729 total, 522 in this make and model, 577 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SWF, 9 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 19970831024839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970831024839A), Aug 31, 1997: Piper PA28140, Gardiner Arpt, NY, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed into trees while trying to abort a landing attempt. ## Other investigations on N557FL (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 NYC84LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA035), Nov 21, 1983: Piper PA-28-140 (N557FL), Farmingdale, NY, substantial damage 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.