# NTSB NYC08CA055: Piper PA-22-150, N5921D, Tallahassee, FL, December 8, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 8, 2007, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.501111, -84.080276
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5011&lon=-84.0803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA055

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged clearance over obstacles during final approach.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - altitude/clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot, age 85, was attempting to land a Piper PA-22-150 at his private airstrip.  While on final approach for the 1,500-foot-long turf strip, the airplane contacted trees, then utility wires, and came to rest upright.  The reported weather about the time of the accident included calm winds, a broken ceiling at 9,000 feet, and visibility 10 miles.  The pilot reported a total flight experience of 2,319 hours; of which, most was in the same make and model as the accident airplane.  In addition, the pilot flew the accident airplane about 17 hours during the 90-day period preceding the accident.  Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

## Factual narrative

The pilot, age 85, was attempting to land a Piper PA-22-150 at his private airstrip.  While on final approach for the 1,500-foot-long turf strip, the airplane contacted trees, then utility wires, and came to rest upright.  During the impact, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and the pilot incurred minor injuries.  The reported weather at an airport located approximately 19 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included calm winds, a broken ceiling at 9,000 feet, and visibility 10 miles.  The pilot reported a total flight experience of 2,319 hours; of which, most was in the same make and model as the accident airplane.  In addition, the pilot flew the accident airplane about 17 hours during the 90-day period preceding the accident.  Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5921D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5921D-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 22-4583, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-4583
- Airframe hours: 3861
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Willis O Forman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007, 7 hours before
- Departed: 2J9, Quincy, FL
- Destination: NONE, Tallahassee, FL
- Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 12, 1,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 85; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 2,319 total, 2,313 in this make and model, 2,072 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 19 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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