# NTSB NYC94LA105: Piper PA-32R-300, N5716F, Put-In-Bay, OH, July 2, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1994, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Put-In-Bay, OH
- Coordinates: 41.639102, -82.820289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6391&lon=-82.8203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38774
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38774/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA105

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE CONTROL AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH A SIGN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - sign

## Analysis

THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT LANDING GEAR 'FELT FUNNY,' AND THE AIRPLANE PULLED TO THE LEFT.  THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE 'PULLED...TO THE RIGHT.'  THE PILOT BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP BY REDUCING THE POWER, APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND RIGHT RUDDER.  ACCORDING TO A WITNESS THE AIRPLANE, 'CAME IN, HOT,' AND TOUCHED DOWN BEFORE THE RUNWAY NUMBERS.  THE LEFT WING 'DIPPED LEFT, 20-30 DEGREES,' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING BY ADDING POWER TO THE ENGINE.  THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND STRUCK A SIGN NEAR THE RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE WING SEPARATING, AND CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO VEER OFF TO THE LEFT.  TIRE MARKS SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On July 2, 1994, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 32R-300, N5716F, piloted by Mr. Richard Fischer, struck a sign while landing at the Monica Drake Airport, Put-in-Bay, Ohio. The airplane was substantially damaged.  The pilot and 5 passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after touchdown, "...[the] left gear felt funny aircraft pulled to the left...."  The pilot wrote that he applied full power and the airplane turned to the right, and was heading toward some parked airplanes.  To avoid hitting the parked airplanes the pilot applied right rudder, reduced the power to the engine, applied full brakes, and stopped the airplane.

A witness to the accident watched N5716F land, and wrote in her statement:

The aircraft came in, hot, touched down before the      22#'s on the runway.  His left wing dipped left, 20-30      degrees-the pilot applied power, looking as if to abort      the landing, and the left wing again dipped down to the      left and hit the sign near the runway...the wing      separated...the aircraft, on the ground, veered of to      the left....

According to the FAA tire marks showed that the airplane landed on the left edge of a 22 feet wide runway.  The airplane pulled to the left of the runway, the left wing struck an airport sign, and the left main landing gear collapsed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5716F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5716F), registered now, S/N 32R 7780018, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7780018
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David L. Abshire
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: OH30
- Airport: OH30, Monica Drake, runway 22, 2,870 × 22 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 243 total, 19 in this make and model, 179 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLE, 59 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 19940702017489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940702017489A), Jul 2, 1994: Piper PA32R300, Put In Bay, OH, Substantial damage. Landed short of threshold. Veered into a steel property sign. Left gear collapsed and left wing seperated.

## Other investigations on N5716F (1)

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.

- [NTSB IAD97LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA092), Jun 21, 1997: Piper PA-32R-300 (N5716F), Defiance, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of a wheel rim due to overstress separation with no clear evidence initiating event.

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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