# NTSB NYC07CA179: Piper PA-28-181, N284HP, Montauk, NY, July 31, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2007, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Montauk, NY
- Coordinates: 41.076389, -71.920555
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0764&lon=-71.9206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66337
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66337/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA179

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing, which resulted in an impact with a tree.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

Following an uneventful flight, the pilot approached the destination airport.  While turning on to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot saw an airplane pulling out from the apron and onto the runway.  The pilot elected to make a 360-degree right turn in order to provide additional space between himself and the other airplane.  He then continued the approach, but "came in too high and therefore floated too far along the runway."  After touching down once, the airplane "ballooned," then contacted the runway again "hard."  With insufficient runway remaining, the pilot decided to go-around.  As the airplane accelerated, the pilot turned the airplane to the left to avoid striking the trees ahead of him; however, the left main landing gear struck one of the trees, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the Piper PA-28-181, following an uneventful flight, he approached the destination airport.  While turning on to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot saw an airplane pulling out from the apron and onto the runway.  The pilot elected to make a 360-degree right turn in order to provide additional space between himself and the other airplane.  He then continued the approach, but "came in too high and therefore floated too far along the runway."  After touching down once, the airplane "ballooned," then contacted the runway again "hard."  With insufficient runway remaining, the pilot decided to go around.  As the airplane accelerated, the pilot turned the airplane to the left to avoid striking the trees ahead of him; however, the left main landing gear struck one of the trees, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N284HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N284HP), registered now, S/N 2843372, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 2843372
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Archer HP LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BVY, Beverly, MA
- Destination: MTP, Montauk, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MTK, Montauk Airport, runway 6, 3,481 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 263 total, 67 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: GON, 16 nm away

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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