# NTSB NYC92LA176: Piper PA-34-200T, N37DD, Coatesville, PA, August 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1992, 08:20 local (12:20 UTC)
- Place: Coatesville, PA
- Coordinates: 39.98048, -75.809265 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9805&lon=-75.8093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA176

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH AND EVENTUAL TOUCHING DOWN OFF THE RUNWAY WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR.  A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOSS OF VISUAL PERCEPTION AND FOG.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - missed approach - discontinued, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear - collapsed

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING AN ILS APPROACH HE DID NOT SEE THE RUNWAY AT DECISION HEIGHT AND INITIATED A MISSED APPROACH.  AFTER INITIATING THE MISSED APPROACH THE RUNWAY BECAME VISIBLE AND HE REDUCED POWER FOR A LANDING.  DURING THE FLARE, THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE RUNWAY BECAUSE OF GROUND FOG.  THE AIRPLANE HAD DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND TOUCHED DOWN IN THE GRASSY AREA TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  THE AIRPLANE SLID OUT OF CONTROL ON THE WET GRASS.  THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE AIRPLANE SLID ON THE GRASS, AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRPLANE SLID BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37DD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37DD-2008-09-23), registration cancelled 2008-09-23, S/N 34-7970481 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7970481
- Airframe hours: 1307
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-EB1 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Devaney
- Registered owner: Dev-Air Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1992, 22 hours before
- Departed: 26N, OCEAN CITY, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 40N, Chester County Carlson, runway 29, 5,400 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,830 total, 1,306 in this make and model, 1,725 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920824032919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920824032919A), Aug 24, 1992: Piper PA34200T, Coatesvilla, PA, Substantial damage. Began missed approach then saw white runway marking. Tried to land, lost visual. Landed on grass. Hit runway lip.

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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