- Date
- March 11, 1995, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Wilmington, OH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8395YPiper PA-28RT-201
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950311004779A
- Case key
- 38929
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 adequate terrain clearance during a go around, which resulted in an inflight collision with a snowbank. A factor is the pilot's delay in initiating a go around.
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
During final approach at Wilmington, Ohio, the pilot observed an excessive rate of descent and performed a go around. During the go around, the right main gear struck a snow bank. The pilot radioed ground personnel to visually check his landing gear. Ground personnel told the pilot that the right main gear had rotated 90 degrees from its normal position. The pilot returned to wright-patterson air force base, Ohio and performed an emergency landing. During the emergency landing the right main gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway.
Factual narrative
On Saturday, March 11, 1995 about 0915 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, N8395Y, operated by Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) Aero Club, and piloted by Jerry L. Pringle, was substantially damaged during a go around at Clinton Field (I66) in Wilmington, Ohio. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated at WPAFB, Ohio on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR 91.
The pilot reported he departed WPAFB on a local flight to practice maneuvers and touch and goes at I66. While on his second approach at I66 the pilot stated, the airplane was sinking faster than he intended, so he performed a go around. During the go around, about 200 yards from the approach end of the runway, the right main gear stuck a snow bank. During the climb out he observed the right main gear indicator did not show a down and locked position. He radioed ground personnel and asked them to visually check the gear while he made a low pass. Ground personnel indicated to the pilot that the right main gear had, rotated 90 degrees from its normal position.
The pilot elected to return to WPAFB to perform an emergency landing. While at WPAFB the pilot radioed WPAFB Aero Club and discussed emergency procedures, while circling to burn fuel. During the emergency landing, the right main gear collapsed, the airplane turned to the right and went off the right side of the runway.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the right wing spar was bent and the right wing was wrinkled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8395Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28RT-201 (PA-28RT-20)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-8118072
- Airframe hours
- 3,895
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1C6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wpafb Aero Club Operator
- Registered owner
- Wpafb Aero Club Operator
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 7, 1995 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- FFO · Dayton, OH
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- I66 · Clinton Field, runway 20, 3,500 × 65 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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 205 total · 16 in this make and model · 187 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FFO, 22 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.