# NTSB NYC98LA004: Piper PA-28-180, N7742W, Edgartown, MA, October 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1997, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Edgartown, MA - Location: 41.3585° N, 70.5245° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KATAMA AIRPARK (1B2), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3585&lon=-70.5245&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39481/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind direction and his failure to initiate a go-around. Contributing factors were the tailwind, wet runway, and utility pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command - terrain condition - wet - go-around - not performed, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - utility pole ## Analysis The pilot stated he planned an approach and landing on runway 06, a wet grass runway, at the destination airport because the winds were measured by a reporting station nearby to be 080 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot landed fast and retracted the flaps upon touchdown, approximately 1/3 of the way down the runway. As the pilot applied the brakes, the airplane continued upwind off the end of the runway, and impacted telephone poles that lay on the departure end of the runway. After exiting the airplane, the pilot determined the wind to be from 225 degrees at 8 knots. There was a wind sock located on the northeast side of the field. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1997, about 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7742W, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway and collided with terrain during landing at the Katama Airpark, Edgartown, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated he obtained a weather report from Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, approximately 5 miles from Katama Airpark. Martha's Vineyard reported winds from 080 degrees at 6 knots, and with that information, the pilot planned an approach and landing to runway 06, a 2,700 foot long grass runway. The pilot flew the approach with full flaps and the airplane landed "...a little hot [fast]..." approximately 1/3 of the way down the runway. Upon touchdown, the pilot stated he retracted the flaps because "...the brakes supposedly work better when flaps are up". The pilot said the grass was wet, and as he applied the brakes, they were ineffective. The airplane continued towards telephone poles that lay across the departure end of the runway. The airplane impacted the poles, shearing off the nose gear and right main landing gear, coming to rest upright. As the pilot exited the airplane after the accident, he determined the wind to be from 225 degrees at 8 knots. There was wind sock located on the northeast side of Katama Airpark. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7742W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7742W), registered now, S/N 28-1751, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-1751 - Airframe hours: 2672 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Townsend R. Morey Agency Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: UUU, NEWPORT, RI - Destination: 1B2 - Airport: 1B2, Katama Airpark Airport, runway 6, 2,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,466 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 1,366 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MVY, 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 19971003045639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971003045639A), Oct 3, 1997: Piper PA28180, Edgartown, MA, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot stated he planned an approach and landing on runway 06, a wet grass runway, at the destination airport because the winds were measured by a… ## Other investigations on N7742W (2) 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 CHI66D0460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66D0460), Sep 19, 1965: Piper PA-28 (N7742W), Cashton, WI, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X3307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3307), Aug 9, 1964: Piper PA28 (N7742W), Norwalk, OH, substantial damage 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.