# NTSB IAD98LA107: Piper PA-28-235, N9091W, Schroon Lake, NY, September 6, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1998, 12:22 local (16:22 UTC) - Place: Schroon Lake, NY - Coordinates: 43.829284, -73.729194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8293&lon=-73.7292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 7, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43940/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing factors were the gusty wind conditions and trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private pilot, who was flying the aircraft from the left seat, accompanied by the aircraft owner (right seat), also a private pilot but with an expired FAA medical, flew to the Schroon Lake Airport, Schroon Lake, New York. An approach to landing was executed to runway 16. Right, quartering headwind conditions existed and both occupants reported gusty wind conditions. During the landing roll a gust of wind raised the aircraft's right wing. The aircraft subsequently veered off the left (east) side of the runway impacting trees. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1998, at 1222 eastern daylight time, N9091W, a Piper PA-28-235, registered to and being operated by a private pilot (right seat), and being flown by a second private pilot (left seat), was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during the landing roll at the Schroon Lake Airport, Schroon Lake, New York. Both occupants sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed. The personal flight was to have been conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Caldwell, New Jersey, earlier on the morning of the accident. The aircraft owner reported that it was a perfect landing, but a gust of wind caught the airplane and pushed it to the left side of the runway. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the left wing struck trees. The airplane then came to rest opposite the direction of travel. The pilot flying (left seat) reported that "the landing was almost completed but on the rollout a sudden gust wing [sic] tipped the plane over from the right side. The plane made a sudden stop at the tree line on the left...." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the airplane touched down 2/3 down runway 16. The runway at Schroon Lake was 3,150 in length and composed of asphalt. The aviation surface weather winds reported at Glenn's Falls airport at 1147, located 32 nautical miles south of the accident airport, were from 190 degrees magnetic at 9 knots. The aircraft owner reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine. He also reported that the aircraft was being flown by the left seat pilot. FAA records indicated that the aircraft owner's most recent medical certificate (third class) had been issued March 10, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9091W (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10698 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ferraro, Stephen, P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ - Destination: 4B7, NY - Airport: 4B7, Schroon Lake, runway 16, 3,150 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,521 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GFL, 32 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 19980906035259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906035259A), Sep 6, 1998: Piper PA28235, Schroon Lake, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft landing at 4B7 on runway 16. A wind from the southwest, gusty at times. The pilot lost control and the aircraft went off the left side of the runway,… 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.