Nantucket Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
Thursday, July 23, 1998 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot misunderstood air traffic control instructions, and set up for the wrong runway. She was advised of the mistake, told to depart, and reenter the landing pattern for Runway 30. She said she felt rattled by the confusion, and found herself over the runway at 300 feet and too fast. She thought about going around, but felt she might conflict with traffic on another runway. She pulled back on the throttle to land, and the airplane hit hard. It bounced into the air, touched down again, and skidded off the runway to the left. Winds recorded about 35 minutes prior to the accident were from 190 degrees magnetic at 6 knots, and winds recorded about 25 minutes after the accident were from 200 degrees magnetic at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to perform a go-around. A factor in the accident was the tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NANTUCKET
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02554
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 NANTUCKET MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ACK
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 48
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ACK
Elevation of weather observation facility 48
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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 Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 594
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1936
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7406J
NTSB Number NYC98LA150
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 28-24771
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 6178
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREY LADY AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address OLD SOUTH ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NANTUCKET
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02554
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ACK
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 3125
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --