Towanda Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Towanda, Pennsylvania 18848
Friday, July 29, 1994 14:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AN ABORTED LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, '....THE APPROACH APPEARED NORMAL. TOUCHDOWN AT FIRST SEEMED TO BE GOOD, BUT THE (AIRPLANE) BALLOONED BACK UP INTO THE AIR. I INTENDED TO BRING THE WHEELS BACK TO THE RUNWAY BY PUSHING FORWARD ON THE YOKE, BUT THE PLANE BOUNCED AGAIN IN THE AIR. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN A PORPOISE, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DO A GO-AROUND. I STARTED TO PUSH THE THROTTLE UP AND PULL BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT MY REACTION WAS TOO SLOW. THE (AIRPLANE) CAME BACK DOWN TO THE RUNWAY, NOSE FIRST.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TOWANDA
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18848
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOWANDA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N27
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 725
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 956
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 29 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43078
NTSB Number NYC94LA149
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 28-7425332
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2425
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name G. ALLEN SEWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 166
Aircraft Owner City BROOKSIDE
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07926
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLIGHT LEADER, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 166
Operator City BROOKSIDE
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07926
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MMU
Departure City MORRISTOWN
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 3030
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --