On April 27, 1982, a Piper 601P (registration N31EH) operated by Industrial Electric Heating was involved in an aviation accident near New Castle, PA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A witness reported seeing aircraft N31EH on a very close right base at 150-200 feet, moving rapidly in a steep right turn. As it neared the runway, the pilot steepened the bank, leading to the right wing tip contacting the runway.
Accident Overview
An accident involving aircraft N31EH was observed by a witness. The witness provided a detailed account of the aircraft's approach and the subsequent wing tip contact with the runway surface. This report is based solely on the witness's observations.
Witness Observations
The witness stated that they saw N31EH on a very close right base leg at an altitude of approximately 150 to 200 feet above ground level. The aircraft was moving at a rapid rate of speed and was executing a very steep right turn. As the turn progressed and the aircraft neared the runway, it became apparent that the radius of the turn would take it left of the runway centerline.
Sequence of Events
In response to the misalignment, the pilot appeared to steepen the bank angle further. This action resulted in the right wing tip contacting the runway surface. The contact occurred while the aircraft was still in the steep turn, close to the ground. The witness did not provide any further details regarding the outcome beyond this point.