Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed on final approach, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing. A factor in the accident was the night light condition.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 28, 1997, about 0010 eastern daylight time, a Piper, PA-28R-200, N8139C, was substantially damaged during landing at the Frankfort-Highland Airport, Frankfort, New York. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal flight which originated at Wiscasset, Maine, about 1010. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and during a telephone interview, the pilot stated he entered a left downwind for runway 31, a 2,550 foot paved, lighted runway. The pilot said that his approach was normal and that he felt no reason to believe anything was wrong. During the landing flare, the airplane floated. The pilot said that he touched down long and realized he did not have enough runway available to go-around. The airplane departed the end of the runway continued down a 60 foot embankment, and into a swamp.
The pilot reported no malfunctions with the airplane or engine. He also reported his total flight experience to be about 165 hours, including about 40 hours in make and model.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC97LA130