# NTSB NYC92LA180: Piper PA-46-350, N350PM, Sanford, ME, August 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1992, 10:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, ME
- Location: 43.4392° N, 70.7742° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sanford, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4392&lon=-70.7742&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA180

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW IFR PROCEDURES WHEN HE DISREGARDED THE DECISION HEIGHT LIMITATION AND FAILED TO INITIATE A MISSED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE STRIKING TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command
  - decision height - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ON THE SECOND ATTEMPTED ILS APPROACH THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT HAVE THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT BUT, '...CONTINUED AT D.H. [SIC] FOR A FEW MOMENTS...' AND THEN SAW THE RUNWAY.  HE SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING TO LAND AND '...[THE PILOT] WOULD ATTEMPT TO CIRCLE AT DECISION HEIGHT AND RE-INTERCEPT THE GLIDESLOPE.  DURING THIS ILL-CONCEIVED MANEUVER I ENCOUNTERED ONE OR MORE PINE TREES...'  AFTER DECLARING AN EMERGENCY THE PILOT WAS VECTORED TO AN AIRPORT 24 MINUTES AWAY.  THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS ON THE FLIGHT TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT AS, '...A CONTROL CONDITION SIMILAR TO AN ENGINE OUT IN A MULTI-ENGINE AIRPLANE.'  AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A MEDIAN BETWEEN A RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N350PM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350PM-1997-02-27), registration cancelled 1997-02-27, S/N 4636028 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4622052
- Airframe hours: 620
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clifford F. Evans
- Registered owner: Clifford F. Evans
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 1992, 19 hours before
- Departed: N52, SOMMERSET, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SFM, Sanford Municapal, runway 7, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 704 total, 90 in this make and model, 624 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SFM

## 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 19920828051039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920828051039A), Aug 28, 1992: Piper PA46350P, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. Saw runway briefly. Tried circle below mca. Wing struck trees. Remained aloft. Veered off runway at alternate.

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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