Piper PA24-250 N5801P

Summary

On 31 July 1999 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA24-250 registered N5801P, operated by Claude J. Heffner, was involved in an accident near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 1999 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Greencastle, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Cumberland Valley (74W)

Coordinates

39.7905, -77.7191

Aircraft

Piper PA24-250

Registration

N5801P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Claude J. Heffner

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Williamsport → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA189

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudgement of speed and distance during the approach and his failure to perform a go around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on approach to a 1,800 foot long, turf runway. When the airplane was above the runway threshold, the pilot pulled the power back; however, the airplane 'floated' about 1,000 feet down the runway. The pilot then retracted the flaps and the airplane touched down. The pilot stated that braking action on the runway was poor, and when he noticed the airplane was approaching the trees located at the end of the runway, he intentionally 'ground-looped' the airplane. The airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.