N8097F

On May 6, 1995, about 0850 eastern daylight time, a Piper, PA-28-161, N8097F, collided with the terrain during a landing at Old Bridge Airport, Old Bridge, New Jersey. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight departed at 0840, and was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after landing on runway 24 (the runway was 3,600 feet long and 50 feet wide), "...[the airplane] touched down just past [the] numbers...bounced and floated." The pilot wrote that the airplane "immediately shifted to the left of the runway [and it was] obvious [the] plane was leaving the runway." The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck small trees, some brush, and came to a stop in a ditch.

The FAA examined the wreckage at the accident site on May 6, 1995, and found the left main landing gear scissors had broken, "causing the wheel to drag which appeared to force the aircraft to continue traveling to the left before impact." The FAA found damage to both wings, the nose and left landing gear. The engine was torn loose from the mounts, and the propeller was curled. The left fuel tank had fuel and the right fuel tank was ruptured, resulting in the fuel draining from the tank. All the electrical and fuel systems were secured by airport personnel prior to the FAA's arrival.

According to the pilot, the winds at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 8 knots, gusts to 10 knots.

At the time of the accident, the pilot's total flight time was 146.6 hours, of which 6.6 hours were in this make and model airplane. The pilot wrote on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he had 1.9 hours as pilot-in-command in this make and model airplane.