# NTSB NYC97LA073: Piper PA-32R-300, N29M, Lumberton, NJ, April 14, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 1997, 20:00 local (Apr 14, 1997, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Lumberton, NJ - Location: 39.9343° N, 74.8072° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FLYING W (N14), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9343&lon=-74.8072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39343 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39343/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in initiating remedial action to arrest an excessive descent rate during a go-around. A crosswind condition was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - descent - not corrected, pilot in command - climb - not attained, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot and passenger overflew the airport and observed the windsock favoring the use of runway 01. While on final approach to runway 01, about 50 feet above the runway, the airplane encountered a sudden gust of wind from the left. The pilot added power, and was about to retract the landing gear, when the airplane struck the ground in a level attitude and bounced. After the accident the pilot observed the windsock fully extended, pointing perpendicular to runway 01. Winds reported 10 miles northeast of the airport were from 310 degrees at 17, gusting to 22 knots. The pilot reported that he experienced no problems with the engine or flight controls. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 1997, about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N29M, was substantially damaged while landing at the Flying W Airport, Lumberton, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Albany, New York, about 1830. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he overflew the airport and observed the windsock pointing down runway 01. He further stated: "...I turned final and was aligned with the center of the visual glideslope...50 feet or less above the runway, I encountered a sudden severe gust of wind from the left. The tail of the airplane went to the right and the nose pitched up...I added power and was putting the gear selector up when we hit flat and bounced. We ended up in the grass to the right of runway 01...While running to the FBO, I saw the windsock was standing virtually straight out, perpendicular to the runway..." During a telephone interview the pilot reported that an annual inspection had just been completed on the airplane, and he experienced no problems with the engine or flight controls. The pilot had accumulated over 900 hours of flight experience, of which 190 hours were as pilot in command in make and model. Winds reported at an airport about 10 miles northeast of the Flying W Airport, were from 310 degrees at 17, gusting to 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29M-1998-07-14), registration cancelled 1998-07-14, S/N 32R7780409 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780409 - Airframe hours: 3329 - Engines: Lycoming IO540/KIG5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas W. Papperman - Registered owner: Airplanes Unlimited, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1997, 8 hours before - Departed: ALB, ALBANY, NY - Destination: N14, NJ - Airport: N14, Flying W, runway 1, 3,500 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 903 total, 778 in this make and model, 564 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 310° at 17 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: WRI, 10 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 19970414005809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970414005809A), Apr 14, 1997: Piper PA32R300, Lumberton, NJ, Destroyed. Aircraft encountered a gust of wind on approach, nose pitched up, attempted go around, bounced on runway, off side. 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.