# NTSB NYC97LA130: Piper PA-28R-200, N8139C, Frankfort, NY, June 28, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1997, 00:10 local (04:10 UTC)
- Place: Frankfort, NY
- Coordinates: 43.03033, -75.070838 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0303&lon=-75.0708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39389
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39389/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA130

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed on final approach, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing.  A factor in the accident was the night light condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment

## Analysis

The pilot was on a night approach to a 2,550-foot paved, lighted runway.  The pilot stated that his approach was normal and that he felt no reason to believe anything was wrong.  During the landing flare the airplane floated and touched down long.  The pilot said he did not have enough runway available to go around.  The airplane departed the end of the runway continued down a 60-foot embankment into a swamp.

## Factual narrative

On June 28, 1997, about 0010 eastern daylight time, a Piper, PA-28R-200, N8139C, was substantially damaged during landing at the Frankfort-Highland Airport, Frankfort, New York.  The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal flight which originated at Wiscasset, Maine, about 1010.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and during a telephone interview, the pilot stated he entered a left downwind for runway 31, a 2,550 foot paved, lighted runway.  The pilot said that his approach was normal and that he felt no reason to believe anything was wrong.  During the landing flare, the airplane floated.  The pilot said that he touched down long and realized he did not have enough runway available to go-around.  The airplane departed the end of the runway continued down a 60 foot embankment, and into a swamp.

The pilot reported no malfunctions with the airplane or engine.  He also reported his total flight experience to be about 165 hours, including about 40 hours in make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8139C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8139C-1997-11-17), registration cancelled 1997-11-17, S/N 28R7635131 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7635131
- Airframe hours: 5136
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry C. Schoene
- Registered owner: Taildragger Flyers Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1996, 163 hours before
- Departed: 1W1, WISCASSET, ME
- Destination: 6B4, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 6B4, Frankfort-Highland, runway 31, 2,550 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 165 total, 43 in this make and model, 126 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: UCA, 5 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 19970628016289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970628016289A), Jun 28, 1997: Piper PA28R200, Frankfort, NY, Destroyed. Aircraft ovrshot runway and went into gulch.

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.

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