Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain proper distance and altitude during approach which resulted in an undershoot and collision with a fence.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On December 15, 1997, about 2200 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2932X, was substantially damaged when it undershot the runway and collided with a fence while landing at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot was reportedly practicing short field night landings at PNE to runway 24, a 7,000 foot long, 150 foot wide, asphalt runway. During the 12th landing, the airplane collided with a fence approximately 950 feet from the approach end of runway 24, and the airplane came to rest along the right side of the runway.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
The winds at the airport were reported from 230 degrees at 8 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC98LA046