# NTSB NYC98LA150: Piper PA-28-140, N7406J, Nantucket, MA, July 23, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1998, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Nantucket, MA - Location: 41.2533° N, 70.0605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NANTUCKET MEML (ACK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2533&lon=-70.0605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA150 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to perform a go-around. A factor in the accident was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot misunderstood air traffic control instructions, and set up for the wrong runway. She was advised of the mistake, told to depart, and reenter the landing pattern for Runway 30. She said she felt rattled by the confusion, and found herself over the runway at 300 feet and too fast. She thought about going around, but felt she might conflict with traffic on another runway. She pulled back on the throttle to land, and the airplane hit hard. It bounced into the air, touched down again, and skidded off the runway to the left. Winds recorded about 35 minutes prior to the accident were from 190 degrees magnetic at 6 knots, and winds recorded about 25 minutes after the accident were from 200 degrees magnetic at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1998, about 1030 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7406J, was substantially damaged during landing at Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK), Nantucket, Massachusetts. The student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot stated that she thought she received conflicting instructions from the tower. She said she was first told to set up a right base for Runway 24. She was thinking it should have been a left base when the tower controller asked her what she was doing. When she responded that she was setting up for a right base to Runway 24, the tower controller told her it was supposed to be a right base for Runway 30. The pilot then departed the traffic pattern, and reentered a pattern for Runway 30. She felt rattled by the confusion, and found herself over Runway 30 at 300 feet and "too fast." She thought about going around, but heard the tower comment to Runway 24 traffic. She felt that if she did do a go-around, she might conflict with that traffic. She pulled back on the throttle to make the landing, and the airplane hit hard. It bounced into the air again, touched down, and skidded off the runway to the left. A review of the air traffic control voice communications tape revealed that both Runway 24 and Runway 30 were being used. The tower controller instructed the student pilot to "circumnavigate the island to east side, enter a 2 mile right base for Runway 30." The student pilot acknowledged the instructions. Winds recorded about 35 minutes prior to the accident were from 190 degrees magnetic at 6 knots, and winds recorded about 25 minutes after the accident were from 200 degrees magnetic at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7406J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7406J-2017-02-28), registration cancelled 2017-02-28, S/N 28-24771, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-24771 - Airframe hours: 6178 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Grey Lady Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 3, 1998, 29 hours before - Departed: ACK - Airport: ACK, Nantucket Memorial, runway 30, 3,125 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 35 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ACK ## 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 19980723046579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980723046579A), Jul 23, 1998: Piper PA28140, Nantucket, MA, No damage. (-23) Shannon r. schuster, student pilot, bounced on landing, added no power and crashed nose onto runway 30 at Nantucket municipal airport. Student pilot is… 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.