What happened
On December 30, 2008, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N95156, was involved in a fatal accident near Pittstown, New Jersey. The flight was a local instructional session intended to help the pilot train for an instrument rating and regain night flying currency.
After departing Alexandria Airport (N85), the pilot and flight instructor flew west for approximately 15 minutes. Once night had fallen, they returned to the airport to perform a practice instrument approach to runway 8. While flying the traffic pattern to land on runway 26, the pilot entered the left downwind leg. The pilot noted the aircraft was traveling at approximately 100 knots and believed the plane was roughly 100 feet below the published traffic pattern altitude. As the pilot turned from the downwind leg to the base leg, the aircraft struck trees.
The accident resulted in 1 fatal injury to the flight instructor and 1 serious injury to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was located about 1/4-mile east of the runway 2/6 approach end. The aircraft's fuselage was found inverted, and both wings had separated from the wing roots.
Mechanical examination of the engine and airframe revealed no abnormalities. The engine showed impact damage, and the propeller blades were bent or gouged, but the crankshaft remained intact with compression present on all cylinders. The oil filter and suction elements were free of debris. While the PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) for runway 26 was noted to be non-functional, investigators found that trees in the area were approximately 150 feet tall, and some were located near the extended runway centerline.
Findings
- The pilot was flying in night visual meteorological conditions.
- The aircraft was approximately 100 feet below the published traffic pattern altitude during the approach.
- The aircraft struck trees aligned with the final approach course.
- No mechanical failures contributed to the accident.