# NTSB NYC99LA189: Piper PA24-250, N5801P, Greencastle, PA, July 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1999, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Greencastle, PA - Coordinates: 39.79047, -77.719108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7905&lon=-77.7191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47039 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47039/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgement of speed and distance during the approach and his failure to perform a go around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was on approach to a 1,800 foot long, turf runway. When the airplane was above the runway threshold, the pilot pulled the power back; however, the airplane 'floated' about 1,000 feet down the runway. The pilot then retracted the flaps and the airplane touched down. The pilot stated that braking action on the runway was poor, and when he noticed the airplane was approaching the trees located at the end of the runway, he intentionally 'ground-looped' the airplane. The airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 1999, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Piper, PA24-250, N5801P, was substantially damaged while landing at the Cumberland Valley Airstrip Airport, Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Williamsport Regional Airport, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, about 1330. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was landing on runway 09, a 1,800 foot long, 150 foot wide, turf runway. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated he conducted a short field approach to the runway. On final approach, the airplane's flaps were fully extended and the pilot maintained an airspeed of 80 miles per hour. When the airplane was above the runway threshold, the pilot pulled the power back; however, the airplane "floated" about 1,000 feet down the runway. The pilot then retracted the flaps and the airplane touched down. The pilot stated that braking action on the runway was poor, and when he noticed the airplane was approaching the trees located at the end of the runway, he intentionally "ground-looped" the airplane. The airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The pilot reported about 1,150 hours of total flight experience, of which 970 hours, were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5801P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5801P-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 24-881, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24881 - Airframe hours: 4200 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Claude J. Heffner - Registered owner: Scs Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: IPT, WILLIAMSPORT, PA - Destination: 74W - Airport: 74W, Cumberland Valley, runway 9, 1,800 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,065 total, 915 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HGR, 7 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 19990731043279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990731043279A), Jul 31, 1999: Piper PA24250, Greencastle, PA, No damage. (-23)No narrative ## Other investigations on N5801P (1) 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 MIA73DLD31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73DLD31), Nov 12, 1972: Piper PA-24 (N5801P), Orlando, FL, 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.