# NTSB NYC03LA003: Piper PA-28-181, N8071Z, Edgartown, MA, October 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2002, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Edgartown, MA - Coordinates: 41.358333, -70.524444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3583&lon=-70.5244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55854/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight evaluation of the landing facilities wind conditions, and inadequate airspeed resulting in a stall/mush. A factor related to the accident was the tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water ## Analysis Arriving in the airport area, the pilot determined that the wind was favoring runway 06. While on approach to runway 06, severe turbulence and a wind shift was encountered. After crossing the threshold of the runway, the airplane appeared to be landing with a tailwind, and the pilot initiated a go-around. During the go-around, as the pilot pulled back on the control yoke, the airplane continued to descend towards the ground. The airplane struck a tree, touched down in a grass field located beyond the departure end of the runway, and came to rest upright. The recorded weather at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 250 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2002, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8071Z, was substantially damaged during a go-around from the Katama Airport, Edgartown, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, upon arriving in the airport area, he determined that the wind was favoring runway 06; a 2,700-foot long, 50-foot wide, turf runway. While on approach to runway 06, severe turbulence and a wind shift was encountered. After crossing the threshold of the runway, the airplane appeared to be landing with a tailwind, and the pilot initiated a go-around. During the go-around, as the pilot pulled back on the control yoke, the airplane continued to descend toward the ground. The airplane struck a tree, touched down in a grass field located beyond the departure end of the runway, and came to rest upright. The pilot additionally reported he did not experience any difficulties with the engine or airframe during the flight. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the lower empennage section of the airplane. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe. The recorded weather at a nearby airport, at 1053, included winds from 250 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The recorded winds at 0953 were from 260 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8071Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8071Z), registered now, S/N 28-8290087, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8290087 - Airframe hours: 2553 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 181 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel Scanlon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2002, 75 hours before - Departed: PVD, Providence, RI - Destination: 1B2, Edgartown, MA - Airport: 1B2, Katama Airport, runway 06, 2,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 28, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,482 total, 2,189 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: MVY, 6 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 20021001030319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021001030319A), Oct 1, 2002: Piper PA28181, Edgartown, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot approached and landed downwind on runway 06 at Katama airport (K1B2), martha's vineyard, MA, at 1050L on 10/01/2002. Overshoot of landing resulted… 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.