# NTSB NYC97LA107: Piper PA-28-181, N38758, Walton, NY, June 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 1997, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Walton, NY - Coordinates: 42.160327, -75.129264 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1603&lon=-75.1293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39368 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39368/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper inflight decision to establish an approach without confirming the landing area, and his delayed go-around, which resulted in the inflight collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot and two passengers arrived at their destination airport after a 1 hour flight. The pilot established a final approach to the runway 26, decided that he was too high to land, and performed a go-around. The runway length was 2300 feet. He established a right turn to depart the area, and then 'thought' he saw the airport. He established a second approach and realized that it was not the airport. The pilot initiated a climb out straight ahead, and decided that he did not have enough turning room left or right, and the rising terrain was beyond the climb capability of airplane. The pilot retracted the flaps gradually during climb and the airplane began to sink. With the stall warning on, the pilot selected and flew the airplane into a tall pine tree. The airplane then descended through trees and came to a stop on the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 1997, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N38758, was destroyed during a collision with terrain and post crash fire near Walton, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Caldwell, New Jersey, about 1400. 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 the 1 hour flight to Walton was uneventful. The pilot established a final approach to runway 26, decided that he was too high to land, and performed a go-around. He established a right turn to depart the area, and further stated: "...thought I saw airport. Started second approach and realized this was not airport. Started to climb out straight ahead. Had no turning room left or right, and rising terrain was beyond climb capability of aircraft. Retracted flaps gradually during climb and began to sink...I could not out climb the hill, airspeed was 60 kts IAS, stall warning was activated. I chose a tall pine tree to soften the controlled impact. Descended through trees and came to sudden stop on ground..." The pilot indicated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 , there was no mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38758](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38758-1998-01-05), registration cancelled 1998-01-05, S/N 287790583 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 287790583 - Airframe hours: 4760 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Freedom Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 1997, 30 hours before - Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ - Destination: 2NK7 - Airport: NONE, Walton, runway 26, 2,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 995 total, 650 in this make and model, 890 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BGM, 45 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 19970606047209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970606047209A), Jun 6, 1997: Piper PA28181, Walton, NY, Destroyed. (-16) Pilot was flying to Walton airport. Called airport owner and was given description and latitude/longitude of airport. Used GPS to help find airport, but… 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.