# NTSB NYC95LA005: Piper PA-28-140, N44794, Grt Barrington, MA, October 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 1994, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Grt Barrington, MA - Location: 42.1842° N, 73.4032° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GREAT BARRINGTON (GBR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1842&lon=-73.4032&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38881/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA005 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent collapsed landing gear. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of total recent flying experience and recent experience in make and model. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO STAY IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN AND PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. DURING HIS FIRST APPROACH TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED ONCE, AND LANDED A SECOND TIME WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME FOR THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS CONSISTED OF 2 HOURS OF PILOT-IN-COMMAND IN ANOTHER MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 1994, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, owned by Great Barrington Enterprise, Inc., and piloted by Henry S. Rossire, was substantially damaged while landing at the Great Barrington Airport, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that he had planned to stay in the airport traffic pattern and practice takeoff and landings. This was his first approach to a landing. In the 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: "...Weather clear, wind calm, practicing landings and takeoffs on Runway 11...After reviewing accident site I have determined that the aircraft was in a too low position for the approach to Runway 11. The main gear struck the embankment and the right side [landing gear] was torn off the aircraft. The aircraft slid off the right side of the runway, stopped in the grass about 50 yards from the threshold..." In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, he stated: "...The pilot landed short of the runway asphalt by about 3 feet. There was a rut about 6 inches deep and 2 1/2 to 3 feet long that was caused by the right main wheel as it contacted the ground. There was slight evidence of the left main wheel touching the ground at about the same time. The airplane apparently bounced back into the air. The next indication of impact with the ground was located about 30 feet away on the runway asphalt...There was an indication of the main landing gear sliding for a short distance when it apparently collapsed enough to cause the airplane to be supported on the right wing tip...the airplane left the runway and continued to slide on the turf or grass along side of the runway..." The 80 year old pilot's total flight time for the previous 90 days consisted of 2 hours of pilot-in-command in another make and model airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44794](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44794-2019-05-06), registration cancelled 2019-05-06, S/N 28-7525006, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7525006 - Airframe hours: 6737 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Great Barrington Enterprise - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 1994, 68 hours before - Departed: GBR - Destination: GBR, MA - Airport: GBR, Great Barrington, runway 11, 2,579 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 560 total, 444 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 40 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 19941007034329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941007034329A), Oct 7, 1994: Piper PA28140, Great Barringto, MA, Substantial damage. Landed 3 feet short of runway. Impact with raised runway tore off the landing gear. Lacked recent time in type. 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.