# NTSB NYC96LA165: Piper PA-28-181, N8121K, West Kingston, RI, August 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 1996, 20:20 local (Aug 12, 1996, 00:20 UTC) - Place: West Kingston, RI - Location: 41.4832° N, 71.5514° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Kingston, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4832&lon=-71.5514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 10, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39228/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA165 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach to land, and his failure to go around while there was still sufficient runway remaining, which resulted in an overrun of the runway and collision with trees. The lack of natural lighting at dusk was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane overran the runway during landing, and collided with trees. The pilot reported: 'I arrived overhead (the airport) about 2000 edt. By this time it was almost dark. I made about 4 or 5 passes, being high on each pass. Trees at the approach end of the runway made it difficult, as I couldn't see the top of the trees to judge my height relative to the end of the runway. On the last pass, I dropped it in almost halfway down the runway. It became obvious I was not going to stop in time, and it was too late for an (aborted landing). Knowing there was a precipitous drop at the end of the (runway), I veered to the left, hoping the soft earth would slow me to a stop. I hit the soft earth, and lost control, and ran into the trees.' No mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 1996 about 2020 eastern daylight time, N8121K, Piper PA-28-181,a personal flight, overran runway 29, and collided with trees during landing at Richmond Airport, West Kingston, Rhode Island. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The departure point was Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported " I arrived overhead (the airport) about 2000 edt. By this time it was almost dark. I made about 4 or 5 passes, being high on each pass. Trees at the approach end of the runway made it difficult as I couldn't see the top of the trees to judge my height relative to the end of the runway. On the last pass, I dropped it in almost halfway down the runway. It became obvious I was not going to stop in time, and it was too late for a wave-off. Knowing there was a precipitous drop at the end of runway 29, I veered to the left, hoping the soft earth would slow me to a stop. I hit the soft earth, and lost control, and ran into the trees." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8121K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8121K), registered now, S/N 28-8090142, built 1979 (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: 28-8090142 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Guadolupe Torres - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SFZ, PAWTUCKET, RI - Destination: RI04 - Airport: RI04, Richmond, runway 29, 2,100 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 200 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PVD ## 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 19960812022249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960812022249A), Aug 12, 1996: Piper PA28181, Richmond, RI, Substantial damage. Made high speed approach, lost control on landing, ran off the runway and struck an embankment. ## Other investigations on N8121K (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC95LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA185), Aug 9, 1995: Piper PA-28-181 (N8121K), West Kingston, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point which resulted in insufficient runway stopping distance and a subsequent overrun of the runway, and collision with 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. --- 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.