Hartness State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springfield, Vermont 05150
Thursday, May 17, 2012 13:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during landing the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind. He applied full right rudder in an attempt to compensate for the wind, but the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck a runway sign and a runway light, and came to rest in a field; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 290 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 15 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Springfield
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05150
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432037N
Event Location Longitude 0723101W
Event Location Airport Hartness State Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VSF
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 578
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1330 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID VSF
Elevation of weather observation facility 578
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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) 30460
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2012 7:47AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N630TG
NTSB Number ERA12CA342
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA46
Aircraft Series Identifier 350T
Aircraft Serial Number 4692079
Certified Max Gross Weight 4358
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
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 Mar 29 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 339
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name David Panagrossi
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Branford
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06405
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name David Panagrossi
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Branford
Operator State CT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 06405
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 BLM
Departure City Monmouth
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code VSF
Destination City Springfield
Destination State VT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2012 10:07AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --