Norfolk Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Norfolk, Massachusetts 02056
Saturday, August 12, 1995 19:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot noticed the weather on his route of flight was deteriorating. He elected to land and wait for the weather to improve. The pilot stated, '...upon reaching the airport bounds I encountered extremely heavy rain and moderate to severe turbulence...my forward visibility was zero.' The pilot reported he landed on the first third of the runway length, but was unable to stop due to hydroplaning, and the aircraft overran the runway. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot landed in heavy rain at higher than recommended speed and about half way down the runway, which had standing water. The aircraft collided with trees and a fence. Before takeoff, the pilot received weather information from a Flight Service Station, and was advised of possible heavy rain and thunderstorms.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgement of speed and distance during the landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. Factors relating to the accident were: heavy rain, wet runway, and hydroplaning conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1950
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORFOLK
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02056
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NORFOLK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MA07
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 137
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
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) 1463
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2350
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8252W
NTSB Number NYC95LA187
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2402
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 25 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 1159
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PETER J. COTTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 37 KENWOOD AVE
Aircraft Owner City WORCHESTER
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01605
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 MVY
Departure City MARTHAS VINEYAR
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1835
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FIT
Destination City FITCHBURG
Destination State MA
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 36
Runway Length 2700
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --