# NTSB NYC94LA061: Piper PA-32-300, N2598Q, Hopedale, MA, March 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 1994, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Hopedale, MA - Location: 42.1065° N, 71.5101° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HOPEDALE INDUSTRIAL PARK (1B6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1065&lon=-71.5101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38739/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA061 ## Probable cause the certified flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action by not initiating the go-around, resulting in the in-flight collision with the tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis THIS WAS A TRAINING FLIGHT TO ALLOW A RATED STUDENT PILOT (RSP) TO BUILD FLIGHT TIME IN THE AIRPLANE WITH A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). AFTER DEPARTURE, THE FLIGHT CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN THE LOCAL AREA. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT TO THE AIRPORT, WHILE ON A LONG FINAL TO THE RUNWAY, THE CFI GAVE THE RSP A FORCED LANDING. THE RSP BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE TOO HIGH FOR THE RUNWAY AND PLACED THE AIRPLANE IN A SLIP TO LOSE ALTITUDE. WHEN THE RSP RESUMED A NORMAL GLIDE HE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BELOW AN ACCEPTABLE GLIDE PATH TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. DURING A GO-AROUND INITIATED BY THE RSP, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE. THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRPLANE, COMPLETED A 360 DEGREE TURN, AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 1994, at 1035 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32, N2598Q, piloted by Gerald DeAngelo, was substantially damaged when it struck trees on approach to the Hopedale Industrial Park Airport, Hopedale, Massachusetts. The certified flight instructor and rated student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that this was a training flight to allow the rated student pilot (RSP) to build flight time. He estimated that the clouds were at 2500 to 3000 feet. After takeoff they climbed to 1500 feet and flew for about 30 minutes. They were about 2 miles north of the airport when he estimated that the visibility reduced to 5 miles. He decided to return to the airport. The CFI further stated: "...at about a mile and a half [from the airport] I reduced power to simulate a power off landing, Mike [RSP] said we were high and we put the plane in a forward slip, straightened out, lined up on the runway, [and] put in full flaps. I...asked Mike if we would ...make the field, he said no, we put in full power for a go-around, started a climb, I heard a noise...Mike said we hit something. I took the plane and landed on [runway] 180 uneventful...rain was on the windshield" In a summarized interview given to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the RSP stated: "...When we were approximately 2 1/2 miles off the extended centerline for runway 18, Gerry brought the power back to simulate an engine failure...we determined to be too high, so a forward slip was performed. When appropriate glide path was attained, a normal glide was resumed and flaps were fully extended. It then became apparent we were below acceptable glide path. Full power was added and a go-around was initiated. The airplane struck the top of a tree during the initiation of the go-around." ## Aircraft - Registration: N2598Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7740054 - Airframe hours: 3467 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gigabyte Computers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1993, 82 hours before - Airport: 1B6, Hopedale Industrial Park, runway 18, 3,200 × 90 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ORH, 19 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 19940327006789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940327006789A), Mar 27, 1994: Piper PA32300, Hopedale, MA, Substantial damage. Simulated engine out on final. Too high slipped. Too low began go around. Struck trees. 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.