Norfolk International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Norfolk, Virginia 23518
Wednesday, September 4, 1985 2:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE GEAR COLLAPSE AFTER CONTACTING A RWY LIGHT AND A TAXIWAY SIGN DURING A LANDING ROLL. THEFLT DEPARTED LA GUARDIA ARPT 230 LBS OVER THE 7000 PLD MAX GROSS WEIGHT OF THE ACFT AND AT LEAST 1 INCH AFT OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT. DURING THE ONE HOUR AND THIRTY FIVE MINUTE FLT TO NORFOLK, VA, THE 60 GALLON OF FUEL USED DECREASED THE WEIGHT OF THE ACFT TO 6870 BLS, HOWEVER, THE COMPUTED CG WAS STILL 1/2 INCH AFT OF THE LIMIT. THIS WAS RECONFIRMED BY THE PLT'S STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE ACFT VEERING TO THE RIGHT IN A QUICKER MANNER IF THE NOSE WHEEL HAD BEEN ABLE TO BE LOWERED TO THE PAVEMENT SOONER TO AID WITH NOSE WHEEL STEERING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 225
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORFOLK
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23518
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ORF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 27
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 150 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID 0RF
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1200
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2885
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31101
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27902
NTSB Number BFO85FA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7952037
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 28 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 2246
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHEASTERN AVIATION CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1209 ORANGE ST.
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL J. RUSSO
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 65-07 FRESH MEADOW LANE
Operator City FRESH MEADOWS
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 11365
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LGA
Departure City NEW YORK CITY
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 50
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ORF
Destination City NORFOLK
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --