# NTSB NYC85LA091: Piper PA-28-180, N55369, Clearfield, PA, March 26, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1985, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Clearfield, PA
- Coordinates: 41.019378, -78.429367 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0194&lon=-78.4294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35850/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA091

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE APCH TO THE ARPT, THE ACFT FLEW OVER A COAL STRIPPING MINE WHICH PRODUCED TURBULENCE AND RESULTED IN A TOUCHDOWN WITHOUT PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55369](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55369-2000-10-31), registration cancelled 2000-10-31, S/N 28-7305368 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7305368
- Airframe hours: 3829
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ray Hylan-School Of Aero-
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 16, 1985, 36 hours before
- Departed: ROC, ROCHESTER, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: N97, Clearfield, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 131 total, 18 in this make and model, 49 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 16 °F

## 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 19850326071469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850326071469A), Mar 26, 1985: Piper PA28180, Clearfield, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft misaligned with runway on final. Veered off side of runway after landing and ran into a ditch.

## Other investigations on N55369 (2)

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.

- [NTSB ATL98LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA083), Jun 13, 1998: Piper PA-28-180 (N55369), Destin, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and her failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during an attempted go-around. A factor was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the…
- [NTSB FTW96LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA309), Jul 17, 1996: Piper PA-28-180 (N55369), Mountain Home, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to compensate for the tailwind and attain the proper touch down point. The tailwind was a related factor.

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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