Lakes Region Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wolfeboro, New Hampshire 03894
Sunday, February 28, 1999 15:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station before departing Alton Bay Seaplane Base, Alton Bay, New Hampshire. While en route to Laconia, New Hampshire, he encountered snow and diverted to Lakes Region Airport, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The pilot landed approximately 1,250 feet beyond the approach end of Runway 30, a 2,540 foot long runway. The airplane bounced several times, overran the runway, and struck a pile of dirt approximately 50 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The pilot was not instrument rated.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to use a preflight briefing service, resulting in an in flight encounter with snow, and subsequent precautionary landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WOLFEBORO
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03894
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport LAKES REGION AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8B8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 580
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LCI
Elevation of weather observation facility 545
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 37
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1605
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8790N
NTSB Number NYC99LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 2825630
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 11 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 4179
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM WATSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 28A
Aircraft Owner City ALTON
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03809
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code B18
Departure City ALTON BAY
Departure State NH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LCI
Destination City LACONIA
Destination State NH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 2540
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --