- Date
- August 21, 2005, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Hancock, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N6617PPiper PA-24-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20050821021319A
- Case key
- 62317
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting the ground. A factor in the accident was the downdraft wind condition, as reported by the pilot.
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
The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 35, and on the base leg, he added two notches of flaps and trimmed the airplane to maintain 85 knots. During the final approach to the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind (downdraft). The pilot applied power; however, the airplane impacted the rising terrain prior to the approach end of the runway, and slid approximately 200 feet before coming to rest. The winds reported at an airport 31 miles to the southeast were from 260 degrees at 8 knots.
Factual narrative
On August 21, 2005, at 1140 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N6617P, was substantially damaged during landing at the White Birch Field Airport (4N8), Hancock, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Farmers Pride Airport (9N7), Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 35, and on the base leg, he added two notches of flaps and trimmed the airplane to maintain 85 knots. During the final approach to the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind (downdraft). The pilot applied power; however, the airplane impacted the rising slope at the approach end of the runway.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane and accident site reported that the airplane touched down "slightly before" the threshold of runway 35. The airplane then slid approximately 200 feet, onto the rising slope of the runway.
The winds reported at an airport 31 miles to the southeast were from 260 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6617P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-1738
- Airframe hours
- 5,725
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ned Corman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2005 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- 9N7 · Fredricksburg, PA
- Destination
- 4N8 · Hancock, NY
- Airport
- 4N8 · White Birch Field Airport, runway 35, 1,910 × 70 ft, grass/turf
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
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 696 total · 170 in this make and model · 624 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- MSV, 31 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.
Other investigations on N6617P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.