Northampton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
Thursday, September 23, 2010 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that it was his first landing at the accident airport. While in the traffic pattern and on the approach for landing, he stated that he became preoccupied with the terrain surrounding the airport and landed at a higher than normal airspeed. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. On the second touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear contacted the runway, the airplane shifted to the right, and the left propeller impacted the runway. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to both wings, and no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane were identified.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Northampton
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01060
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421904N
Event Location Longitude 0723642W
Event Location Airport Northampton Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7B2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 121
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 172
Weather Observation Facility ID CEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 241
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
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) 28111
NTSB Notification Source Windsor Locks FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 11 2011 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56196
NTSB Number ERA10CA513
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 PA34
Aircraft Series Identifier 200
Aircraft Serial Number 34-7350301
Certified Max Gross Weight 4200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6678
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Louis Fly Academy Ltd
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Copiague
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11726
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Louis Fly Academy Ltd
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Copiague
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 11726
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 EEN
Departure City Keene
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FRG
Destination City Farmingdale
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 2 2010 8:19AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 3365
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --