# NTSB NYC88LA153: Piper PA-60, N90DR, Latrobe, PA, June 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1988, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Latrobe, PA
- Coordinates: 40.310409, -79.379272 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3104&lon=-79.3793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36158
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36158/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA153

## Probable cause

ACCIDENT WAS PILOT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, go-around (vfr)
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG AN APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH ON FINAL APCH, SO HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND & MAKE ANOTHER APCH TO LAND. HE RCVD TOWER APPROVAL FOR A LOW APCH, BUT WHEN HE TRIED TO APPLY POWER FOR THE GO-AROUND, THERE WAS A LACK OF ENG RESPONSE. HE RPRTD THE CONTROLS FELT MUSHY & HE BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT APPROACHING A STALL, BUT HE CHECKED HIS AIRSPEED & SAW THAT IT WAS ADEQUATE (110 KTS). HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS, BUT THE ACFT CONTD TO DESCEND. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED DIAGONALLY ON THE ARPT, ABOUT 30 DEG OFF THE RWY HEADING & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. HE RPRTD THE ACFT HAD JUST RCVD AN ANNUAL INSPN & THAT THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN TOTALLY FILLED BEFORE THE FLT. ALSO, HE RPRTD THAT DRG THE FLT, HE HAD CROSSFED FUEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. HOWEVER, NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE LACK OF ENG RESPONSE & ACFT PERFORMANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90DR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 62P090281
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-A1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Westmoreland Mech. Testing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PSB, PHILIPSBURG, PA
- Destination: LBE
- Airport: LBE, Westmoreland, runway 5, 7,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,300 total, 920 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °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 19880602017699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880602017699A), Jun 2, 1988: Piper PA60602P, Latrobe, PA, Substantial damage. Landed short and off side of runway swerved across runway. Damaged prop gear and wing tip.

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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