# NTSB NYC02LA080: Piper PA-28-151, N44636, Belmar, NJ, April 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 2002, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Belmar, NJ - Coordinates: 40.17052, -74.020355 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1705&lon=-74.0204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54448 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54448/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54448 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA080 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during landing. A factor in the accident was the winds. ## 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 - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis After completing several solo cross-country flights during the day, the student pilot was preparing to land at his home airport. During the student's first landing attempt, he executed a go-around because he did not like his ground track, and felt that an airplane following him in the traffic pattern was too close. On the student's second attempt, he turned base leg and then final. On final, he configured the airplane with full flaps, slowed to approximately 65 knots of airspeed, and crabbed the airplane into the wind. On short final, the pilot applied left rudder to align the airplane with runway 14. When he flared the airplane, it floated for a moment before touching down on the centerline, about 500 feet from the approach end. Shortly afterwards, the airplane drifted off the centerline to the left, and exited the runway. The winds recorded at the airport were from 180 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2002, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N44636, was substantially damaged while landing at the Allaire Airport (BLM), Belmar/Farmingdale, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that departed Martin State Airport (MTN), Baltimore, Maryland, destined for Belmar. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed Allaire around 0915, and flew to Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he did one landing. He then flew to Ocean City Municipal Airport (OXB), Ocean City, Maryland, and conducted another landing. After that, he did a landing at Millville Municipal Airport (MIV), Millville, New Jersey. The pilot then flew to Martin State where he conducted a couple of landings before parking the airplane for a few hours. After the break, the pilot returned to the airplane, and departed for the Quakertown Airport (UKT), Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Near Quakertown, the pilot decided not to land because of winds, so he continued on to Allaire. Approaching Allaire, the pilot entered a left downwind for runway 14 via a 45-degree entry. He announced the entry and being established on the downwind at 1,000 feet msl. When he was abeam the approach end of the runway, he reduced engine power to 1,500 rpm, and when the airspeed entered the "white arc," he selected one notch of flaps, and announced turning base leg. On base, the pilot selected another notch of flaps, and then turned final. While on final, the pilot did not like his ground track. He also felt that the airplane behind him was too close, so he executed a go-around. The engine responded and the pilot retracted the flaps. The pilot turned crosswind about 700 feet msl, and then downwind at 1,000 feet msl. He announced both the crosswind and downwind turns. Once again, he was abeam the approach end of the runway. He reduced engine rpm to 1,500, and when the airspeed entered the "white arc," he selected one notch of flaps. The pilot turned base, announced his intentions, selected another notch of flaps, and slowed the airplane to 75 knots. The pilot turned final, announcing the turn, and selected full flaps for landing. While on final, the pilot maintained 65 knots of airspeed, and crabbed the airplane into the wind to maintain a proper ground track to the runway. On short final, the pilot applied left rudder to align the airplane with the runway. He flared the airplane, causing it to float for a moment before touching down on the centerline, about 500 feet from the approach end. Shortly afterwards, the airplane drifted off the centerline to the left, and exited the runway. The left main landing gear was sheared off, and the airplane came to a stop. The pilot secured the engine and exited the airplane to move some debris away from the runway. Winds recorded at Allaire about 5 minutes after the accident were from 180 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44636](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44636-2022-07-30), registration cancelled 2022-07-30, S/N 28-7415691 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7415691 - Airframe hours: 4556 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Garrett Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2002, 60 hours before - Departed: MTN, Baltimore, MD - Destination: BLM, Belmar, NJ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BLM, Allaire, runway 14, 7,300 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: BLM ## 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 20020402018309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020402018309A), Apr 2, 2002: Piper PA28151, Belmar/Farmingd, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot reported winds at blm 190/15G23. Student considered runway 21, but entered traffic pattern for runway 14 due to other traffic, and landed… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54448. 768 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40155436&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 3, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40155437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF 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.