# NTSB NYC93LA132: Piper PA-30, N7563Y, Mitchellville, MD, June 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 1993, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Mitchellville, MD - Coordinates: 38.920192, -76.789451 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9202&lon=-76.7895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38616 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38616/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA132 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE STRIKING A MOVING VEHICLE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - vehicle - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,wheel - separation - Main gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,wheel - missing ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO AN AIRPORT WHERE A MAJOR HIGHWAY CROSSES UNDER THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT FELT SOME TURBULENCE, ADDED POWER TO CORRECT FOR A SLIGHT SINKING AND MADE A NORMAL FLARE. APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY THE RIGHT WING SETTLED ONTO THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS, ON THE HIGHWAY, OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLY A FLAT APPROACH ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, AND THE LANDING GEAR OF THE AIRPLANE STRIKE A MOVING TRUCK TRAILER. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING WHEEL MISSING AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED INWARD. ## Factual narrative On Sunday, June 27, 1993, at about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 30, N7563Y, piloted by William Dixon, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, struck the top of truck trailer while on final approach to Freeway Airport, Mitchellville, Maryland. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot indicated that he was on final approach to the runway, flying the visual glideslope indicator. As the airplane crossed a road, the right main gear of the airplane struck a truck trailer. The pilot did not think there was much damage until landing, when the right wing settled to the runway. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA Inspector revealed the right main gear had sheared off and that the right wing and propeller were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7563Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7563Y-2017-06-21), registration cancelled 2017-06-21, S/N 30-626, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-626 - Airframe hours: 3394 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Aviation Mgt Corp. - Registered owner: Southern Aviation Mgt Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1992, 224 hours before - Departed: RDU, RALEIGH, NC - Airport: W00, Freeway, runway 18, 2,425 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 330 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 15 nm away ## 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 19930627022689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930627022689A), Jun 27, 1993: Piper PA30, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. Right main wheel sheared off hitting top of truck on highway near runway threshold. Too low on final. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.