# NTSB NYC00LA254: Piper PA-24-260, N8704P, Factoryville, PA, September 7, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2000, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Factoryville, PA - Coordinates: 41.560379, -75.780586 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5604&lon=-75.7806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50205/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA254 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis During a practice short field landing at dusk, the airplane touched down about 1 foot short of the runway. It struck a runway threshold light, the left landing gear strut collapsed, and the airplane veered off to the left. There were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and the commercial pilot had over 9,400 hours of flight time. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2000, about 1800 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-24-260, N8704P, was substantially damaged during a landing at Seamans Field (9N3), Factoryville, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he was practicing a short field landing, and "must have gotten behind the airplane." The airplane touched down about 1 foot short of the runway, broke the left landing gear, bent the right landing gear, and damaged both wings. The pilot also noted that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot stated that he had returned from a day trip, and made a full-stop landing at dusk. He then taxied back, took off, and flew a pattern for a practice short field landing to Runway 22. During the landing, the airplane struck a runway threshold light, the left landing gear strut collapsed, and the airplane veered off to the left. The pilot also reported that he had over 9,400 hours of flight time. Winds, recorded at an airport 12 nautical miles to the south, about 1/2 hour before the accident, were from 180 degrees true, at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8704P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8704P), registered now, S/N 24-4150, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4150 - Airframe hours: 9301 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward Kapp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2000, 5 hours before - Departed: 9N3 - Airport: 9N3, Seamans Field, runway 22, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,432 total, 5,900 in this make and model, 8,710 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 12 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 20000907039129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000907039129A), Sep 7, 2000: Piper PA24260, Factoryville, PA, Substantial damage. ( 23) A/c landed short on runway 22 at seaman's field (9N3). Upon landing, a/c hit runway end identifying light and landed hard. The left gear was sheared off… ## Other investigations on N8704P (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 MIA73DLD82](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73DLD82), May 11, 1973: Piper PA-24 (N8704P), Kissimmee, FL, 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.