N44794

On October 7, 1994, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, owned by Great Barrington Enterprise, Inc., and piloted by Henry S. Rossire, was substantially damaged while landing at the Great Barrington Airport, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot reported that he had planned to stay in the airport traffic pattern and practice takeoff and landings. This was his first approach to a landing. In the 6120.1/2, the pilot stated:

"...Weather clear, wind calm, practicing landings and takeoffs on Runway 11...After reviewing accident site I have determined that the aircraft was in a too low position for the approach to Runway 11. The main gear struck the embankment and the right side [landing gear] was torn off the aircraft. The aircraft slid off the right side of the runway, stopped in the grass about 50 yards from the threshold..."

In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, he stated:

"...The pilot landed short of the runway asphalt by about 3 feet. There was a rut about 6 inches deep and 2 1/2 to 3 feet long that was caused by the right main wheel as it contacted the ground. There was slight evidence of the left main wheel touching the ground at about the same time. The airplane apparently bounced back into the air. The next indication of impact with the ground was located about 30 feet away on the runway asphalt...There was an indication of the main landing gear sliding for a short distance when it apparently collapsed enough to cause the airplane to be supported on the right wing tip...the airplane left the runway and continued to slide on the turf or grass along side of the runway..."

The 80 year old pilot's total flight time for the previous 90 days consisted of 2 hours of pilot-in-command in another make and model airplane.