- Date
- August 8, 2004, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place
- Pittstown, NJ
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4171DPiper PA-32R-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040808022339A
- Case key
- 59861
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 pilot's failure to obtain a proper climb rate during a go-around, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent impact with a tree.
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
After initiating a go-around, the pilot felt the airplane was not climbing adequately. About 3/4 down the runway, he reduced the throttle and lowered the nose, to execute a forced landing to a field. The airplane then impacted a tree. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 2004, at 1240 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301, N4171D, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during an aborted landing at the Sky Manor Airport (N40), Pittstown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Old Bridge Airport (3N6), Old Bridge, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was on short final approach for runway 25, a 2,439 foot-long and 50 foot-wide runway, when a gust of wind blew the airplane to the left of the runway. He initiated a go-around, retracted the landing gear, and raised the flaps to 20 degrees. When the pilot felt the airplane was not climbing adequately, he reduced the throttle and lowered the nose, to execute a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
A witness observed the airplane "low and slow" on short final for runway 25. As it passed the approach end of the runway, which sloped upward, the airplane pitched up and increased power. The airplane descended to the runway, the main landing gear contacted the ground, the airplane again increased power, and climbed steeply to about 20-40 feet AGL. When the airplane was about three-quarters down the runway, it remained at a high angle-of-attack, and was "quite low." The witness lost sight of the airplane behind trees, but heard an impact several seconds later.
The winds reported at the Lehigh Valley International Airport, 22 miles to the west, at 1251, were from 260 degrees at 9 knots. The density altitude was 1,324 feet.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4171D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3246153
- Airframe hours
- 747
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 300 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- George Tarantino
- Registered owner
- George Tarantino
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 26, 2004 · 52 hours before
- Departed
- 3N6 · Old Bridge, NJ
- Destination
- N40 · Pittstown, NJ
- Airport
- N40 · Sky Manor Airport, runway 25, 2,439 × 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
- 49
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 24, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 613 total · 448 in this make and model · 567 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- ABE, 22 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.