# NTSB NYC92LA064: Piper PA-32-300, N2921G, Fredericksburg, VA, February 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1992, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Fredericksburg, VA
- Location: 38.2669° N, 77.4492° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SHANNON (EZF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2669&lon=-77.4492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37129/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA064

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT AND NIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH AT NIGHT ON RUNWAY 23 WHICH IS 2999 FEET LONG, 100 FEET WIDE AND HAS TERRAIN THAT SLOPES DOWN AT THE APPROACH END. THE AIRPLANE LANDED 45 FEET SHORT, THE LANDING GEAR WAS TORN OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT AND THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER BOTH SAID THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND TO APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE.  WHEN INTERVIEWED, THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA HE RECOGNIZED HE WAS GOING TO LAND SHORT WHEN APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL, HOWEVER, APPLICATION OF POWER WAS NOT MADE UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.  THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN WHILE STILL ATTACHED TO THE AIRFRAME.  THE TESTS INCLUDED ACCELERATION TESTS AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED SATISFACTORILY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2921G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2921G-1995-04-26), registration cancelled 1995-04-26, S/N 327940202 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7940202
- Airframe hours: 1995
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dettinger Aviation
- Registered owner: Rcg Aviation Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 4, 1992, 17 hours before
- Departed: LVL, LAWRENCEVILLE, VA
- Airport: EZF, Shannon, runway 23, 2,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,457 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EZF, 1 nm away

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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