Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot landed with excessive airspeed which resulted in a long landing, runway overrun, and collision with trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot's statement, he came in too fast and landed long. He reported, '...i ran off the runway to the right and crashed into some small trees...to my mind there was nothing wrong with the aircraft. The accident was due to pilot error.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 20, 1994, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N4497X, piloted by Joesph Lewis, was substantially damaged during a landing on runway 29 at the Great Barrington Airport, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: While landing I came in too fast and landed long. I ran off the runway to the right and crashed into some small trees...to my mind there was nothing wrong with the aircraft. The accident was due to pilot error. -