N13878

Substantial
Serious

Piper PA23-250S/N: 27-4513

Accident Details

Date
Monday, March 20, 2006
NTSB Number
NYC06CA080
Location
Morristown, NJ
Event ID
20060404X00387
Coordinates
40.799167, -74.414718
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's premature shutdown of both engines, which resulted in a forced landing short of the runway. A factor was a landing gear malfunction indication for undetermined reasons.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N13878
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
27-4513
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1970
Model / ICAO
PA23-250PA23
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
NORTHEAST AVIATION COMPANY INC
Address
NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT
GRANT AVE & ASHTON RD
Status
Deregistered
City
PHILADELPHIA
State / Zip Code
PA 19114
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, landing gear indications were normal for both the pre-flight inspection and gear retraction after takeoff. However, at the destination airport, the right main landing gear down indication did not illuminate when the landing gear was lowered. The pilot flew by the control tower, and was advised that the landing gear "appeared to be down." The pilot subsequently switched indicator bulbs, and determined that the bulb was not the problem. The pilot did not report attempting to pump the landing gear down. Because of the amount of fuel onboard, the pilot decided to feather and shut down both engines during the final approach. However, after doing so, the airplane struck a berm short of the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that damage to the airplane precluded further investigation of the landing gear system.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC06CA080