# NTSB NYC93LA179: Piper PA-28-161, N2572U, West Mifflin, PA, August 29, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1993, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: West Mifflin, PA - Coordinates: 40.359756, -79.90036 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3598&lon=-79.9004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38651/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgement of speed and distance, which resulted in a landing overrun of the runway. Factors were an embankment and the pilot not being able to abort the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ravine ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON RUNWAY 23, I DECIDED THAT MY SPEED WAS TOO HIGH AND THAT A GO-AROUND WOULD BE APPROPIATE. I STARTED TO ADD POWER, RETRACTED FLAPS, AND KEYED THE MICROPHONE TO ALERT THE CONTROL TOWER AS TO MY INTENTIONS. HOWEVER, I THEN NOTICED WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A HELICOPTER AT LOW ALTITUDE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MY LEFT AND MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF MY PLANNED FLIGHT PATH. I DECIDED TO TRY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT; I REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY AT SLOW SPEED, BUT COULD NOT STOP BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY.' THE AIRPLANE WENT DOWN A 12 FOOT EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO A STOP. A WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2/3 THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On Sunday, August 29, 1993, at about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2572U, piloted by Mr. Patrick Flannery, departed the end of the runway during the landing roll at the Allegheny County Airport, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot said he had just touched down on runway 23, and "...decided that my speed was too high and that a go- around would be appropriate." The pilot added power, retracted the flaps and before he could call the tower he noticed, "...what I believed to be a helicopter at low altitude in close proximity to my left...moving in the direction of my planned flight path." The pilot then attempted to stop the airplane, but he said. "...I reached the end of the runway...but could not stop before running off the runway." According to FAA Inspector, Dennis Ferencz's report: ...the aircraft...slid off the end of the runway and came to rest at the bottom of an embankment...it appeared that the aircraft landed at a point approximately 1934 feet past the approach end of the runway which is 2534 feet long. This was apparent by the black skid marks that began at this point and continued for approximately 600 feet to the end of the runway. At the end of the runway is an embankment which drops down approximately 12 feet... According to FAA Inspector, Dennis Ferencz, the pilot told him after the accident that he was high on the approach and had to lower the nose of the airplane to make the runway. In a memo to the Safety Board Mr. Ferencz wrote: ...N2572U landed long on runway 23...control tower personnel state that N2572U touched down at a point between runway 10/28 and taxiway "A"...approximately 650 [feet] from the departure end of runway 23... ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2572U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2572U), registered now, S/N 28-8016038 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016038 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Columbia Aviation/Mike Yeosock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: WBW, FORTY FORT, PA - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County, runway 23, 2,534 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 117 total, 64 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °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 19930829052329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930829052329A), Aug 29, 1993: Piper PA28161, Pittsburgh, PA, Substantial damage. Landed on last third of runway. Locked brakes but slid for 600 feet off end runway and down a 12 foot embankment 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.