# NTSB NYC95LA102: Piper PA-28-161, N8097F, Old Bridge, NJ, May 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 1995, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Old Bridge, NJ - Location: 40.3299° N, 74.3468° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at OLD BRIDGE (3N6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3299&lon=-74.3468&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 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38956/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA102 ## Probable cause THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE AND IMPROPERLY RECOVERED FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 24, '...[THE AIRPLANE] TOUCHED DOWN JUST PAST [THE] NUMBERS...BOUNCED AND FLOATED.' THE AIRPLANE 'IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY [AND IT WAS] OBVIOUS [THE] PLANE WAS LEAVING THE RUNWAY.' THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK SMALL TREES, SOME BRUSH, AND CAME TO A STOP IN A DITCH. THE REPORTED WINDS WERE FROM 280 DEG AT 8 KTS, GUSTS TO 10 KTS. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 1995, about 0850 eastern daylight time, a Piper, PA-28-161, N8097F, collided with the terrain during a landing at Old Bridge Airport, Old Bridge, New Jersey. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight departed at 0840, and was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after landing on runway 24 (the runway was 3,600 feet long and 50 feet wide), "...[the airplane] touched down just past [the] numbers...bounced and floated." The pilot wrote that the airplane "immediately shifted to the left of the runway [and it was] obvious [the] plane was leaving the runway." The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck small trees, some brush, and came to a stop in a ditch. The FAA examined the wreckage at the accident site on May 6, 1995, and found the left main landing gear scissors had broken, "causing the wheel to drag which appeared to force the aircraft to continue traveling to the left before impact." The FAA found damage to both wings, the nose and left landing gear. The engine was torn loose from the mounts, and the propeller was curled. The left fuel tank had fuel and the right fuel tank was ruptured, resulting in the fuel draining from the tank. All the electrical and fuel systems were secured by airport personnel prior to the FAA's arrival. According to the pilot, the winds at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 8 knots, gusts to 10 knots. At the time of the accident, the pilot's total flight time was 146.6 hours, of which 6.6 hours were in this make and model airplane. The pilot wrote on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he had 1.9 hours as pilot-in-command in this make and model airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8097F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8097F-1998-07-24), registration cancelled 1998-07-24, S/N 288016091 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8016091 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: O'Brien Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 3N6 - Airport: 3N6, Old Bridge, runway 24, 3,600 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 7 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19950506009819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950506009819I), May 6, 1995: Piper PA28161, Old Bridge, NJ, Substantial damage. Low time pilot drifted off runway on flare. Tried go around but settled onto grass. Rolled into brush. Nosed over. 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.