# NTSB NYC99LA228: Piper PA-601P, N9756Q, West Dover, VT, August 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1999, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: West Dover, VT - Location: 42.9271° N, 72.8657° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DEERFIELD VALLEY RGNL (4V8), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9271&lon=-72.8657&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47408/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA228 ## Probable cause was the diverted attention of the pilot, which resulted in his failure to maintain airspeed, and his failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - gear down and locked - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot cancelled his IFR clearance as he neared his destination airport, and flew visually. When the airplane was about 3 to 5 miles from the airport, he lowered the landing gear and wing flaps. When the airplane was about 2 miles away, he lost visual contact with the runway, added power for a go-around, and retracted the wing flaps and landing gear. When he was about 1/2 mile from the runway, he re-acquired the runway visually. He reduced the power, and lowered the flaps; however, he forgot to lower the landing gear. He also failed to maintain airspeed and the airplane dropped in from about 50 feet. The lower aft fuselage was crushed upon touchdown. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1999, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-601P, N9756Q, was substantially damaged while landing at Mount Snow Airport (4V8), West Dover, Vermont. The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight had been operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he filed an IFR flight plan for the flight between Ithaca, New York (ITH), and Mount Snow. The pilot reported that upon arrival in the Mount Snow area, the flight visibility was about 3 1/2 miles and he elected to cancel his flight plan. The pilot continued with a visual approach to Runway 1. The pilot further stated that when the airplane was 4 miles from the airport, the visibility was 3 to 5 miles and he lowered the landing gear and wing flaps. When the airplane was 2 miles from the airport, the weather worsened. He made a decision to go to Keen, New Hampshire (EEN), and retracted the landing gear, raised the wing flaps, and added power. At 1/2 mile from the airport, he saw the landing runway at the last minute and tried to land. He said, "...Not a good decision, forgot [landing] gear." He reported that the airplane hit the runway 1/3 of the way down and skidded to a stop on the left hand side of the runway. In the Recommendation section on how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated: "Marginal weather, I made the wrong decision when I saw the airport at the last minute, the airplane is too big for last minute decisions. Not enough time to properly set up for landing configuration for the landing gear the 2nd time." The pilot reported that he stalled the airplane about 50 to 60- feet above the ground and the airplane landed hard on the runway. The lower fuselage was crushed and bent during the touchdown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9756Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9756Q-2011-01-07), registration cancelled 2011-01-07, S/N 61P-0374-121 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-601P - Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P-0374-121 - Airframe hours: 2850 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert B. North - Registered owner: Srq Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1999, 150 hours before - Departed: ITH, ITHACA, NY - Destination: 4V8 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 4V8, Mount Snow, runway 1, 2,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,350 total, 465 in this make and model, 12,350 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 3.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19990808037689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990808037689A), Aug 8, 1999: Piper PA60601P, West Dover, VT, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot cancelled his IFR clearance as he neared his destination airport, and flew visually. When the airplane was about 3 to 5 miles from the airport,… ## Other investigations on N9756Q (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 BFO86LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO86LA043), Aug 21, 1986: Piper 601P (N9756Q), Indian Head, MD, 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.