# NTSB NYC08CA200: Piper PA-28-161, N3024Z, Wildwood, NJ, June 1, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2008, 22:30 local (Jun 1, 2008, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Wildwood, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.008335, -74.908058
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0083&lon=-74.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68138/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA200

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during approach. Contributing to the accident were the dark night conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the PA-28-161 was making a straight-in visual approach on a "very dark" night. He reported that the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) showed "glide good with two white and two red," and the altimeter indicated 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl) when he was approximately 2 miles north of the airport. The pilot did not reference the altimeter or PAPI again, and did not turn on the landing light. The runway was equipped with high intensity runway edge lights, which the pilot activated. About 1/2 mile from the airport, he could see car headlights on the road just before the airport fence. Upon hearing a "loud bang" and feeling an impact with trees to the right wing, the pilot applied full power, pulled back on the yoke, and the airplane rolled right. He was able to climb the airplane and achieve wings-level flight with the application of full left aileron. He flew a traffic pattern and returned to land with "heavy left aileron and rudder."

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the PA-28-161, he was making a straight-in visual approach on a "very dark" night. The approach was to runway 19, a 4,998-foot long, 150-foot wide, asphalt runway. He reported that the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) showed "glide good with two white and two red," and the altimeter indicated 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl) when he was approximately 2 miles north of the airport. The pilot did not reference the altimeter or PAPI again, and did not turn on the landing light. The runway was equipped with high intensity runway edge lights, which the pilot activated. About 1/2 mile from the airport, he said that he could see car headlights on the road just before the airport fence. Upon hearing a "loud bang" and feeling an impact with trees on the right wing, the pilot applied full power, pulled back on the yoke, and the airplane rolled right. He was able to climb the airplane and achieve wings-level flight with the application of full left aileron. He flew a traffic pattern and returned to land with "heavy left aileron and rudder." Inspection of the airplane after landing revealed that the right wing had sustained substantial damage.

Reported weather at the airport about the time of the accident included a broken ceiling at 400 feet, wind 190 at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots, and an altimeter setting of 29.82 inches of mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3024Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3024Z-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 28-7916399, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7916399
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph Cherill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: N81, Hammonton, NJ
- Destination: WWD, Wildwood, NJ
- Airport: WWD, Cape May County Airport, runway 19, 4,998 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: WWD

## 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 20080531842579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080531842579A), May 31, 2008: Piper PA28161, Wildwood, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) The accident happened at approximately 2220 (local) on 31 may 2008. The aircraft departed hammonton municipal airport (N81) vft for Cape May County…

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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