Mount Washington Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Whitefield, New Hampshire 03598
Monday, July 20, 1998 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an instruction flight, the flight instructor (CFI) was given a clearance to execute the localizer runway 10 approach to the Mount Washington Regional Airport. The airport's runway measures 3,495 feet in length and the CFI intended to make a 'full stop' landing. The CFI estimated approximately a quarter of an inch of standing water, with surface winds of 300 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. Because of the landing environment, the CFI decided to land the airplane herself, feeling that it might be too difficult for her student. In addition, she maintained 90 mph on final because of the wind gusts. According to the CFI, the airplane touched down on centerline, approximately 1/2 of the way down the runway, and that the brakes had no effect, and directional control was marginal. The airplane then departed the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The instructor pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. Contributing factors were the instructor pilot's improper in-flight decision, tailwind and gusty conditions, and wet (standing water) runway conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WHITEFIELD
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03598
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MOUNT WASHINGTON REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HIE
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 1074
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1617 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1074
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1300
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1348
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1311
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8182A
NTSB Number NYC98LA148
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8016296
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Apr 30 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 46
Airframe Hours 4631
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAFEFLITE PILOT TRAINING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1465 HOOKSET RD
Aircraft Owner City HOOKSET
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03106
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MHT
Departure City MANCHESTER
Departure State NH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HIE
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 3495
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --