# NTSB NYC05CA065: Piper PA-28-180, N9235J, Sussex, NJ, March 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 30, 2005, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Sussex, NJ - Coordinates: 41.200279, -74.623054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2003&lon=-74.6231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61230/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to insure adequate obstacle clearance while conducting a practice forced landing approach, and the flight instructor's failure to take remedial action, which resulted in an in-flight collision with wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - altitude/clearance - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause) - object - wire,static - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot\owner was executing a practice forced landing to a runway, with a flight instructor in the right seat. During the landing, the right main landing gear contacted the top wire of a set of wires approximately 30 feet high, and 200 feet short of the approach end of the runway. The right wing dropped, and the pilot applied full left rudder and power. The engine responded, but the airplane impacted the runway. The pilot had the warning balls on the wires insight, but did not realize there was an additional wire 4 to 6 feet higher. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2005, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9235J, was substantially damaged while executing a practice forced landing to the Sussex Airport (FWN), Sussex, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor, and certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight. No flight plan had been filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot\owner, he was executing a practice forced landing to runway 3 at the Sussex Airport, with a flight instructor in the right seat. During the landing, the right main landing gear contacted the top wire of a set of wires approximately 30 feet high, and 200 feet short of the approach end of the runway. The right wing dropped, and the pilot applied full left rudder and power. The engine responded, but the airplane impacted the runway. The pilot added that he had the warning balls in sight, but did not realize there was an additional wire 4 to 6 feet higher. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9235J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9235J-2013-01-29), registration cancelled 2013-01-29, S/N 28-3308, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 283308 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce Gregory - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FWN, Sussex, NJ - Destination: FWN - Airport: FWN, Sussex, runway 3, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 92; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 6,101 in this make and model - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 380 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: FWN ## 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 20050330004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050330004549A), Mar 30, 2005: Piper PA28180, Sussex, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) During a simulated emergency landing to runway 03 at the Sussex Airport (fwn) in Sussex, NJ, the right main landing gear of the aircraft struck wires on… ## Other investigations on N9235J (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 NYC95LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA236), Oct 30, 1994: Piper PA-28-180C (N9235J), Nunda, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot-in-command's failure to assure that an adequate runway length was available. 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.