Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to initiate a go-around. A related factor is the pilot's misjudgment of speed and altitude.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the final approach, the pilot was too high and fast, but continued his attempt to land on the 2,400 foot long runway utilizing full flaps. Witnesses stated that the airplane touched down at mid-field, and they did not hear the power being added to the engine until the airplane was near the end of the runway. The airplane became airborne and impacted a wire at the departure end of the runway. The right wing clipped a tree, and the airplane cart-wheeled to the ground. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the engine or airframe.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1997, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N557FL, was destroyed as it collided with trees and telephone wires during an aborted landing at the Gardiner Airport, Gardiner, New York. The certificated private pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed from Brookhaven Airport, Shirley, New York, about 1130, and flew to Gardiner Airport to go skydiving. He recalled that he was too high and fast during the landing, and utilized full flaps in an attempt to stop the airplane on the 2,400 foot runway. Realizing that he was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway, the pilot applied full power. He could not remember if he raised the flaps to the 10 degree position for the aborted landing. Witnesses stated that the airplane touched down about midfield, bounced several times, and was near the end of the runway when the power come back on the engine. The witnesses watched as the airplane got airborne and impacted wires off the departure end of the runway. Its right wing clipped a tree, and the airplane cart-wheeled to the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage and surveyed the debris field. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunction with the engine or airframe. -