- Date
- August 8, 2000, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chester, CT
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8809WPiper PA28-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 6, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000808040159A
- Case key
- 49930
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The CFI's delayed remedial action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot was performing a soft field landing as part of a biennial flight review that was being conducted by a certificated flight instructor (CFI). The airplane was on approach to a 2,566 foot long, asphalt runway, with a displaced threshold of 559 feet. According to the CFI, when the airplane was on short final, the airplane entered a 'down draft that greatly increased the sink rate.' As he was about to order a go-around, the private pilot applied full engine power and raised the airplane's nose; however, the airplane contacted bushes and a fence located prior to the runway threshold. A witness stated that the airplane looked 'low and slow' while on final approach. As the airplane continued to descend towards the fence which preceded the runway, he observed the airplane 'pitch up abruptly' and then suddenly pitch back down. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. Winds reported at an airport about 24 miles east of the airport, were from 240 degrees at 6 knots.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 2000, about 1730 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA28-235, N8809W, was substantially damaged while landing at the Chester Airport (3B9), Chester, Connecticut. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The private pilot was performing a soft field landing as part of a biennial flight review that was being conducted by the CFI. The airplane was on approach to Runway 17, a 2,566 foot long, asphalt runway, with a displaced threshold of 559 feet.
According to the CFI, when the airplane was on "short final," the airplane entered a "down draft that greatly increased the sink rate." As he started to order a go-around, the private pilot applied full engine power and raised the airplane's nose; however, the airplane contacted bushes and a fence located prior to the runway threshold.
A witness waiting for takeoff at the Runway 17 "hold-short" line stated that the airplane looked "low and slow" while on final approach. As the airplane continued to descend towards the fence which preceded the runway, he observed the airplane "pitch up abruptly" and then suddenly pitch back down. He was not able to hear the airplane.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions, nor did the pilots report any.
Winds reported at an airport about 24 miles east of 3B9, at 1756, were from 240 degrees at 6 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8809W
- Reported as
- Piper PA28-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-10354
- Airframe hours
- 2,160
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William K. Kirkman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2000 · 51 hours before
- Departed
- 3B9
- Airport
- 3B9 · Chester, runway 17, 2,566 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,700 total · 4 in this make and model · 2,600 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GON, 24 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.
Other investigations on N8809W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.