Sugarloaf Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carrabassett, Maine 04947
Saturday, September 20, 2008 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he completed a left base turn to final for landing on Runway 17. He reduced power, "attempted to flare," and the airplane landed "very" hard. He stated that the airplane "appeared to be porpoising" and bounced hard two more times before it slid to a halt. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He concluded, "My best guess is that my speed was too high and I was trying to land by instinct rather than watching the airspeed." The pilot reported that the winds were from 180 degrees at 4 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper landing flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Carrabassett
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04947
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450504N
Event Location Longitude 0701235W
Event Location Airport Sugarloaf Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID B21
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 885
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID LEW
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 63
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24739
NTSB Notification Source Portland, Maine FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2008 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2318T
NTSB Number NYC08CA316
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 PA28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7125567
Certified Max Gross Weight 5126
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 Mar 10 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5126
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Holland C. Filgo, Jr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Boston
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02118
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Holland C. Filgo, Jr.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Boston
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 02118
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 ASH
Departure City Nashua
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1750
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code B21
Destination City Carrabassett
Destination State ME
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2008 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --