Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to insure adequate obstacle clearance while conducting a practice forced landing approach, and the flight instructor's failure to take remedial action, which resulted in an in-flight collision with wires.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 30, 2005, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9235J, was substantially damaged while executing a practice forced landing to the Sussex Airport (FWN), Sussex, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor, and certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight. No flight plan had been filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot\owner, he was executing a practice forced landing to runway 3 at the Sussex Airport, with a flight instructor in the right seat. During the landing, the right main landing gear contacted the top wire of a set of wires approximately 30 feet high, and 200 feet short of the approach end of the runway. The right wing dropped, and the pilot applied full left rudder and power. The engine responded, but the airplane impacted the runway. The pilot added that he had the warning balls in sight, but did not realize there was an additional wire 4 to 6 feet higher.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC05CA065