# NTSB NYC95LA044: Piper PA-28-181, N4497X, Gr. Barrington, MA, December 20, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1994, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Gr. 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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38911/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA044

## Probable cause

The pilot landed with excessive airspeed which resulted in a long landing, runway overrun, and collision with trees.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE CAME IN TOO FAST AND LANDED LONG.  HE REPORTED, '...I RAN OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO SOME SMALL TREES...TO MY MIND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRCRAFT.  THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO PILOT ERROR.'

## Factual narrative

On December 20, 1994, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N4497X, piloted by Joesph Lewis, was substantially damaged during a landing on runway 29 at the Great Barrington Airport, Great Barrington, Massachusetts.  The pilot and the three passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2:

While landing I came in too fast and landed long.  I      ran off the runway to the right and crashed into some      small trees...to my mind there was nothing wrong with      the aircraft.  The accident was due to pilot error.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4497X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4497X), registered now, S/N 28-7690023, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7670023
- Airframe hours: 8627
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joesph Lewis
- Registered owner: Berkshire Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1994, 8 hours before
- Departed: GBR
- Destination: GBR, MA
- Airport: GBR, Great Barrington, runway 29, 2,579 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 591 total, 6 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles

## 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 19941220041939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941220041939A), Dec 20, 1994: Piper PA28181, Great Barringto, MA, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast. Ran off runway into 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.

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