# NTSB NYC96LA097: Piper PA-22-150, N2946P, Chester, NH, May 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 1996, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Chester, NH - Location: 42.9568° N, 71.2573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chester, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9568&lon=-71.2573&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39174/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged distance and altitude during final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The airplane collided with bushes short of the runway and nosed over during the landing. The pilot did not recall the accident. The passenger reported that during the final approach, he was observing the surrounding terrain. He then looked forward and observed bushes which the airplane collided with. Also, no attempts were made by the pilot to add power during the approach, and there were no malfunctions with the airplane prior to impact. Examination of the wreckage by a FAA Inspector did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. An undetermined amount of fuel was observed in the airplane and in the carburetor bowl. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 1996 about 1520 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N2946P, was destroyed when it impacted the ground during final approach to the Heaton Airport, Chester, New Hampshire. The private pilot and pilot rated passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Manchester Airport, Manchester, New Hampshire, about 1500, destined for Chester. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form, 6120.1/2, the pilot stated, ". . .I remember being down wind. . . .My next recollection is of standing in front of the right wing of the airplane which was on its back in the center of the approach end of the runway." The passenger reported, during a telephone interview, that the pilot asked him along to assist in the radio communications for the class C airspace at Manchester. He further reported the following conditions about the final approach to Chester: He was observing the surrounding terrain, looking for a trench area located along the final approach path. The passenger then looked forward and observed bushes, which they collided with. There was no attempt by the pilot to add power during the approach. Also, that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions. Additionally, an undetermined amount of fuel was found in both fuel tanks and fuel was observed in the carburetor bowl. The pilot held a private pilot certificate and had an approximate total flight experience of 2,500 hours, of which 10 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2946P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2946P), registered now, S/N 22-3216, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3216 - Airframe hours: 2074 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce M. Clark - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1996, 7 hours before - Departed: MHT, MANCHESTER, NH - Destination: NH61, NH - Airport: NONE, Heaton Airport, runway 28, 1,700 × 130 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 10 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MHT, 14 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 19960503036979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960503036979A), May 3, 1996: Piper PA22150, Chester, NH, Destroyed. Indicates too low on landing approach. Struck bushes off approach end of runway. Flipped onto runway on its back. 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.