# NTSB NYC90LA180: Piper PA-28-151, N6177J, Mt  Pocono, PA, August 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1990, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Mt  Pocono, PA
- Coordinates: 41.119243, -75.349411 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1192&lon=-75.3494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA180

## Probable cause

A HARD LANDING AFTER THE PILOT PERCEIVED AN ENGINE PROBLEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONTROL HIS AIRSPEED AND FLARE DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE AFTER TAKEOFF. HE THEN TRIED TO RETURN FOR A LANDING DOWNWIND. HE TOUCHED DOWN LONG, FAST, AND HARD. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS CONFIRMED THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT STEERED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY INTO TREES WHERE A WING TANK WAS RUPTURED. THE OCCUPANTS EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE AND A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. POST CRASH EXAMINATION BY THE FAA FAILED TO FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A PRE EXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULD FIND NO MECHANICAL EXPLANATION FOR THE ACCELERATION REPORTED BY THE OCCUPANTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6177J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6177J-1991-01-31), registration cancelled 1991-01-31, S/N 287615322 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7615322
- Airframe hours: 2300
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: N.E. Pa. Data Search, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1989, 770 hours before
- Airport: MPO, Mt. Pocono Muni., runway 13, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 108 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °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 19900802029599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900802029599A), Aug 2, 1990: Piper PA28151, Mount Pocono, PA, Destroyed. Beleived engine problem with stall beeper on. Tried land downwind full throttle and no flaps. Ran off into trees.

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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