# NTSB NYC00LA098: Piper PA28R-200, N55820, Lehighton, PA, March 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 2000, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Lehighton, PA - Coordinates: 40.830146, -75.709602 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8301&lon=-75.7096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA098 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. A factor in this accident was the gusty crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane was landing on Runway 26, a 3,000 foot-long, 50 foot-wide, asphalt runway. A witness observed the airplane touchdown on the runway, still crabbed approximately 30 degrees into the wind. The airplane bounced about 10 feet into the air and began to drift to the south side of the runway. The witness heard full power being applied to the engine, and stated the engine seemed to respond normally. The airplane was observed to climb slightly, roll to the left and descend into trees inverted. The airplane came to rest inverted in a wooded area, about 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway, and 625 feet to left of the runway centerline. Portions of the wreckage, which included the main cabin were consumed by a post crash fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact failures of the airframe or engine. Winds reported at airports about 20 miles, east south-east, and 31 miles, south south-west of the accident site, were from 290 degrees at 16 knots with 21 knots gusts, and from 300 degrees at 22 knots with 30 knot gusts, respectively. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 2000, about 1315 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA28R-200, N55820, was destroyed when it impacted trees while landing at the Jake Arner Memorial Airport, Lehighton, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was on approach to Runway 26, a 3,000 foot-long, 50 foot-wide, asphalt runway. A witness observed the accident, in a written statement he said: "... I observed the plane make it's turn from base leg to final approach. The winds at this time were, in my estimation, about 20 knots with gusts to about 25-28 knots and from the north-northwest. The aircraft made what appeared to be a normal approach to runway 26, except it was obvious that the plane was being affected by the winds...The aircraft touched down hard on the runway and was still crabbed approximately 30 degrees into the wind when its tires touched down. The aircraft bounced about 10 feet into the air and the right wing was being lifted by the wind and the aircraft was being blown to the south side of the runway. I heard full power being applied to the engine, and the engine seemed to respond normally....The aircraft climbed slightly, just above some trees, however the right wing remained high, and the aircraft rolled to the left and descended into the trees inverted...." The airplane came to rest inverted in a wooded area, about 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of Runway 26, and 625 feet to left of the runway centerline. Portions of the wreckage, which included the main cabin were consumed by a post crash fire. The pilot stated he had no memory of the accident. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration did not reveal any pre-impact failures of the airframe or engine. It was noted that numerous branches and small trees in the path of the airplane exhibited fresh 45 degree cuts. Winds reported at airports about 20 miles, east south-east, and 31 miles, south south-west of the accident site, were from 290 degrees at 16 knots with 21 knots gusts, and from 300 degrees at 22 knots with 30 knot gusts, respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55820](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55820-2000-11-28), registration cancelled 2000-11-28, S/N 28R7335294 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R7335294 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Regan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 1998, 69 hours before - Departed: 22N - Airport: 22N, Jake Arner Memorial, runway 26, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 550 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 20 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 20000326004089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000326004089A), Mar 26, 2000: Piper PA28R200, Lehighton, PA, Destroyed. (.4)The airplane was landing on runway 26, a 3,000 foot-long, 50 foot-wide, asphalt runway. A witness observed the airplane touchdown on the runway, still… 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.