Piper PA-38-112 N2423A

Summary

On 21 June 1995 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N2423A, operated by George E Barth, was involved in an accident near Utica, New York, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 1995 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Utica, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Riverside (4B2)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-38-112

Registration

N2423A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

George E Barth

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oswego → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO95LA070

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper retraction of the flaps.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT HE CHECKED FOR A WINDSOCK, BUT HE DID NOT SEE ONE SO HE DECIDED TO USE RUNWAY 32 AS HE HAD USED RUNWAY 33 AT HIS LAST DEPARTURE AIRPORT, ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY. DURING THE LANDING HE NOTICED THAT HE WAS LANDING WITH A TAILWIND, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE FOR THE LANDING SO HE DECIDED TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS, BUT THE FLAP HANDLE WENT TO THE FULL UP (RETRACTED) POSITION. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK AND THE TREES WERE GETTING CLOSER SO HE STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD 'BETTER PREPARATION OF PERFORMANCE ON A HOT HUMID DAY.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.