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April 5, 1982 · Piper PA-44-180 · N36737

Mcsherrystown, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 5, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Mcsherrystown, PA
Aircraft
Piper PA-44-180
Tail Number
N36737
Operator
Fox Enterprises
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC82FGT11

The pilot reported that when he arrived at night, there were snow showers at the airport. While turning final, he turned his landing lights on. However, he reported that he could see better with the landing lights off, so he turned them off. After touching down on the grass runway, he elected to slow down and make a 180 degree turn to taxi back down the runway to the terminal building. During the landing roll, he moved over to the left side of the runway toward a ditch that protruded 26 ft inside the runway lights. The ditch was located about 1654 ft from the approach end of the runway where a stream crossed through a culvert, under the runway. There were indications that the ditch had eroded inside the runway lights after the airport was certified. Six yellow halves of 55 gallon drums were used to mark the obstruction, but they were not lighted. As the pilot was slowing near the left side of the runway, the left main gear and nosewheel dropped into the ditch.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT NIGHT, THERE WERE SNOW SHOWERS AT THE AIRPORT. WHILE TURNING FINAL, HE TURNEDHIS LANDING LIGHTS ON. HOWEVER, HE REPORTED THAT HE COULD SEE BETTER WITH THE LANDING LIGHTS OFF, SO HE TURNED THEM OFF. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON THE GRASS RUNWAY, HE ELECTED TO SLOW DOWN AND MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO TAXI BACK DOWN THE RUNWAY TO THE TERMINAL BUILDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE MOVED OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TOWARD A DITCH THAT PROTRUDED 26 FT INSIDE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE DITCH WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1654 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY WHERE A STREAM CROSSED THROUGH A CULVERT, UNDER THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE DITCH HAD ERRODED INSIDE THERUNWAY LIGHTS AFTER THE AIRPORT WAS CERTIFIED. SIX YELLOW HALVES OF 55 GALLON DRUMS WERE USED TO MARK THE OBSTRUCTION, BUT THEY WERE NOT LIGHTED. AS THE PILOT WAS SLOWING NEAR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND NOSEWHEEL DROPPED INTO THE DITCH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 EST
Nearest AirportHANOVER (0nm N)
Runway9
Runway Length2690 ft
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-44-180
Tail NumberN36737
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFox Enterprises
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind120° @ 15 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingOvercast 2200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data