Piper PA-22-135 N170JH

Summary

On 24 April 2010 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-22-135 registered N170JH, operated by Vincent Peter Cianfichi, Jr., was involved in an accident near Hoensdale, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 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

24 April 2010 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hoensdale, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Cherry Ridge Airport (N30)

Coordinates

41.5092, -75.2508

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-135

Registration

N170JH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Vincent Peter Cianfichi, Jr.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tunkhannock → Hoensdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA245

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper final approach, resulting in a bounced landing and ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel airplane stated, "my touchdown was a bounce, followed by a smaller bounce. The airplane started veering left and off the runway. I applied right rudder and added power to try to straighten out when the tail came out left. I cut the power as the ground loop occurred. The airplane came to rest 180 degrees, facing south." Damage to the airplane consisted of substantial damage to the left wing spar and left elevator. The pilot added that the accident could have been prevented by making the decision to acquire more time with landings in this type of airplane prior to solo, and prior to operating on a hard surface. The pilot reported 5 hours of total experience in the make and model accident airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.