# NTSB NYC02LA167: Piper PA32-300, N20787, Chatham, MA, August 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2002, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Chatham, MA - Coordinates: 41.688331, -69.98944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6883&lon=-69.9894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 17, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55499/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA167 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue the landing after losing visual contact with the runway, which resulted in his failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, and the subsequent overrun. Factors in this accident were the clouds and low ceiling. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - Overrun, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot performed a instrument approach to runway 6, a 3,001 foot-long, asphalt runway. He was in and out of clouds, but maintained visual contact with the runway. When the airplane was about 600 feet over the approach end of runway 6, he began a left turn and entered the traffic pattern for runway 24. While on final approach, at an altitude of about 300 feet, the pilot lost visual contact with the runway. The pilot said he was "too low and slow to do a missed approach and attempted to land." The airplane touched down "too far down" the runway and the pilot was unable to stop before the airplane departed the end of the runway, traveled down an embankment, and collided with trees. The weather reported at the airport, near the time of the accident included: winds from 200 degrees at 12 knots, with 18 knot gusts; 10 miles visibility; and an overcast ceiling at 500 feet. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2002, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA32-300, N20787, was substantially damaged while landing at the Chatham Municipal Airport (CQX), Chatham, Massachusetts. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Hartford, Connecticut. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported he performed an "NDB" approach to runway 6, a 3,001 foot-long, asphalt runway. He was in and out of clouds, but maintained visual contact with the runway. When the airplane was about 600 feet over the approach end of runway 6, he began a left turn and entered the traffic pattern for runway 24. While on final approach, at an altitude of about 300 feet, the pilot lost visual contact with the runway. The pilot said he was "too low and slow to do a missed approach and attempted to land." The airplane touched down "too far down" the runway and the pilot was unable to stop before the airplane departed the end of the runway, traveled down an embankment, and collided with trees. A witness at the airport stated he observed the airplane on approach "going in and out of a 400 to 500 foot ceiling." The airplane touched down approximately 2,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. He lost sight of the airplane, and heard the sound of braking, followed by the sound of "full power being applied and crunching trees." The pilot reported he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions. The weather reported CQX, at 1252, included: winds from 200 degrees at 12 knots, with 18 knot gusts; 10 miles visibility; and an overcast ceiling at 500 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20787](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20787), registered now, S/N 32-7840181, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7840181 - Airframe hours: 1950 - Engines: Lycoming IO540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marken Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: HFD, HARTFORD, CT - Destination: CQX, Chatham, MA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CQX, Chatham Muni, runway 24, 3,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 22, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,280 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 450 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: CQX ## 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 20020816017509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020816017509A), Aug 16, 2002: Piper PA32300, Chatham, MA, No damage. (-23) On July 16th at 12:30 pm, mark josel, pilot in command of N20787 had completed a non precision approach and was circling Chatham airport for landing,… 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.