- Date
- December 7, 1993, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Lumberton, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4920JPiper PA-28R-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931207046129A
- Case key
- 38718
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath due to improper compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was a crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The CFI was giving a commercial student instructions, and on this approach they were simulating an engine out. On final approach to runway 1, the airplane descended below the glidepath. The CFI took control of the airplane, applied full power and tried to climb; the airplane struck the ground approximately 100 feet short of the runway. The reported winds at the time of the accident were, 300 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 13 knots.
Factual narrative
On Tuesday, December 7, 1993, at about 0845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N4920J, piloted by Mr. Richard Hill (certified flight instructor, CFI), collided with the terrain while on short final approach, for a landing at the Flying "W" Airport, Lumberton, New Jersey. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the two pilots were 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.
According to the CFI's statement on the NTSB for 6120.1/2, the airplane was on short final for runway 01, when "...I experienced a wind-shear." The CFI said, "...after applying full power, I was unable to stop the descent before the aircraft impacted the ground." After impact the left main gear broke, followed by the collapse of the right main gear, the nose gear, and the propeller striking the ground.
The CFI reported on Page 4 of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that the winds at the time of the accident were, "...300 [degrees] at 10 knots, [with gusts to] 13 knots," which is consistent with a left crosswind for a landing on runway 01.
According to FAA Inspector, Jesse Kern, the CFI was giving a commercial student instructions, and on this approach they were simulating an engine out. Mr. Kern wrote in his report, that the CFI told him:
...the student was on a glide path which would have put the aircraft on the runway numbers. On final approach a down draft caused the aircraft to descend below the path that would allow it to reach the runway. [The CFI] took over, applied full power and tried to climb, the aircraft struck the ground approximately 100 feet short of the runway...
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4920J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-30641
- Airframe hours
- 2,470
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-B1E, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Alpha Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 2, 1993 · 73 hours before
- Departed
- N14
- Destination
- N14
- Airport
- N14 · Flying W, runway 1, 3,496 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 940 total · 60 in this make and model · 839 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 58 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.