# NTSB NYC07CA028: Piper PA-11, N4549M, Van Hornsville, NY, November 11, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 11, 2006, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Van Hornsville, NY
- Coordinates: 42.875, -74.833335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8750&lon=-74.8333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64853
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64853/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA028

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while he was on final approach to the grass runway which he owned, he observed a truck on a perpendicular road to the runway.  The pilot stated that his attention must have been concentrated on the truck, since the airplane drifted right and the right wing contacted a tree, prior to the airplane impacting the ground.  The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while he was on final approach to the grass runway which he owned, he observed a truck on a perpendicular road to the runway.  The pilot stated his attention must have been concentrated on the truck, since the airplane drifted right and the right wing contacted a tree, prior to the airplane impacting the ground.  The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4549M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4549M), registered now, S/N 11-49 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11-49
- Airframe hours: 5936
- Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Glenn Guilfoyle
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2006
- Departed: NONE, Van Hornsville, NY
- Airport: NONE, Van Hornsville, runway 04, 1,100 × 60 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,109 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: UCA, 21 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 20061111022969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061111022969A), Nov 11, 2006: Piper PA11, Van Hornsville, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday, November 11, 2006 at approximately 12:00 noon, the pilot [privacy data omitted] and sole occupant of N4549M, a Piper, PA-11, was returning…

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.

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