# NTSB NYC05LA063: Piper PA-38-112, N2368E, Hamburg, NY, March 26, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 2005, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Hamburg, NY - Coordinates: 42.700832, -78.914718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7008&lon=-78.9147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA\FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61211 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61211/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis Upon landing on the 2,465-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, asphalt runway, the airplane made an abrupt left turn after the left landing gear departed from the runway surface and dug into soft terrain. The pilot attempted to correct the turn by applying right rudder; however, the rudder had no effect. The airplane continued off the runway surface, proceeded across a grass area, and came to rest in a ditch. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies with the flight or engine controls. The accident flight was the pilots first flight in the make and model airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 2005, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2368E, was substantially damaged while landing at the Hamburg Airport (4G2), Hamburg, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Sandusky, Michigan. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed from Sandusky, Michigan at 1200. During the flight to 4G2, the airplane made a "very loud unknown noise." The attitude gauge then became inoperative and was spinning around in circles. Soon after, the airplane began to intermittently yaw in a drifting manner. The pilot continued, and executed a landing to runway 01, a 2,465-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, asphalt runway, at the Hamburg Airport. During the landing, the airplane made an abrupt left turn after the nose wheel touched down on the runway. The pilot attempted to correct the turn by applying right rudder; however, the rudder had no effect. The airplane continued off the runway surface, proceeded across a grass area, and came to rest in a ditch. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage after the accident. He observed substantial damage to both wings. The inspector did not observe any anomalies with the flight or engine controls. The FAA inspector also noted deep tire marks in the immediate soft grass area to the left of the runway. The accident flight was the pilots first flight in the make and model airplane. The winds recorded at an airport 16 miles to the northeast of Hamburg, about the time of the accident, were from 340 degrees, at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2368E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2368E), registered now, S/N 38-78A0450 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0450 - Airframe hours: 1676 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William G Moore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2004, 6 hours before - Departed: Y83, Sandusky, MI - Destination: 4G2, Hamburg, NY - Airport: 4G2, Hamburg Airport, runway 01, 2,465 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 119 total, 3 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: BUF, 16 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 20050326009519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050326009519A), Mar 26, 2005: Piper PA38112, Hamburg, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 29, 2005 at 1430 EST, a Piper PA-38-112, N2368E registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] ran off of runway 01 on landing at Hamburg… 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.