Plum Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950
Friday, July 25, 2003 13:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While landing, the pilot observed a fence extending across the runway just prior to the numbers. The airplane then encountered a gust of wind, which caused the airplane to bank to the left, and the pilot recovered to a wings level attitude. As the airplane flew over the fence, the left wing dropped "uncomfortably" and the pilot corrected. The airplane then touched down hard, and the left tire blew. The airplane skidded to the left, off the side of the runway, and came to rest in a grass area adjacent to the runway. The winds reported at an airport located 12 miles to the south, at 1353, were from 240 degrees at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and his inadequate flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1355
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Newburyport
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01950
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424745N
Event Location Longitude 0705028W
Event Location Airport Plum Island Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2B2
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 11
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID BVY
Elevation of weather observation facility 107
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16771
NTSB Notification Source FAA SROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2004 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Bedford, MA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8146Y
NTSB Number NYC03LA166
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-8213036
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Gerald T. O'Buckley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Jamacia
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11432
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 FRG
Departure City Farmingdale
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2B2
Destination City Newburyport
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 16 2004 2:09PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2105
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --