Sussex Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sussex, New Jersey 07461
Wednesday, May 21, 2014 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was landing on a 3,499-foot-long, asphalt runway. He reported that the airplane's final approach speed was "too fast" and upon landing, the airplane began to bounce. After the third bounce, the airplane landed hard which resulted in substantial damage to the nose landing gear and firewall. The pilot further reported he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and that he should have aborted the landing after the first bounce. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were variable at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed while on approach, and his subsequent failure to recover from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2014
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sussex
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07461
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411201N
Event Location Longitude 0743723W
Event Location Airport SUSSEX
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FWN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 357
Airport Elevation 421
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID FWN
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
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) 32850
NTSB Notification Source AEA ROCC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2014 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9592W
NTSB Number ERA14CA250
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-23040
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 22 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3950
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Nicholas Giorgio
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City New York
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10004
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Nicholas Giorgio
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City New York
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 10004
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 LDJ
Departure City LINDEN
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FWN
Destination City Sussex
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2014 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 3499
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --