# NTSB NYC85LA082: Piper PA-22-108, N66RA, Reading, PA, February 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1985, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Reading, PA
- Coordinates: 40.340965, -75.859214 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3410&lon=-75.8592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35843
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35843/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA082

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - to takeoff
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - planning/decision - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, standing

## Analysis

THE ACFT OVERTURNED WHILE AWAITING TAKEOFF FROM READING,PA. WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 310 DEGS AT 16 KTS, GUSTING TO 22 KTS. AFTER ENGINE UP THE TOWER ADVISED N66RA TP HOLD FOR LANDING TRAFFIC WHICH WAS A LEAR JET. WIND AT THIS TIME WAS GIVEN AS 310 KTS AT 27 KTS. AFTER THE LEAR JET LANDED, THE PIPER WAS CLEARED INTO POSITION AND TOLD TO HOLD. WHILE CROSSING THE HOLDING LINE A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE RIGHT WING AND TAIL AND PUSHED THE ACFT UP ONTO ITS NOSE AND RIGHT WING. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER, TURNED OFF THE ACFT AND EVACUATED. A FEW MINUTES LATER ANOTHER GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE ACFT INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N66RA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-108
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-9431
- Airframe hours: 2323
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Reading Alloys, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 1985
- Destination: LNS, LANCASTER, PA
- Airport: Reading

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,951 total, 123 in this make and model, 1,759 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 20 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATIS

## 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 19850227004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850227004619A), Feb 27, 1985: Piper PA22108, Reading, PA, Substantial damage. While crossing hold line, a gust of wind blew aircraft onto its nose. Another gust blew it onto its back.

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.