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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 31, 1999 · Piper PA24-250 · N5801P

Greencastle, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Greencastle, PA
Aircraft
Piper PA24-250
Tail Number
N5801P
Operator
Claude J Heffner
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC99LA189

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudgement of speed and distance during the approach and his failure to perform a go around.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 EDT
Nearest AirportCumberland Valley (0nm)
Runway9
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA24-250
Tail NumberN5801P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorClaude J Heffner
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data