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Freight Dawgs Rule
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- Dec 17, 2003
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"WEST GOSHEN - David Nelson, a member of the board of directors at the airport, said he could see Webster making the approach to land but noticed the Saratoga's landing gear was not down.
Jay Zook, the airport's assistant manager, dove for the radio to tell Webster his gear was not down and to go around, Nelson said.
"But he was too low, the prop hit the runway," Nelson said. "You could see 50 hash marks on the runway from where the propeller hit."
Jay Zook, the airport's assistant manager, dove for the radio to tell Webster his gear was not down and to go around, Nelson said.
"But he was too low, the prop hit the runway," Nelson said. "You could see 50 hash marks on the runway from where the propeller hit."
///////NTSB said:NTSB Identification: IAD05FA125
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 22, 2005 in West Chester, PA
Aircraft: Piper PA-32R-301, registration: N9285R
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.
On August 22, 2005, about 1030 eastern daylight time, N9285R, a Piper PA-32R-301, was destroyed during impact with trees and terrain, and subsequent postcrash fire, following an aborted landing at Brandywine Airport (N99), West Chester, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which departed North Central State Airport (SFZ), Pawtucket, Rhode Island, about 0815.
Several persons near Brandywine Airport observed the airplane during the approach, attempted landing, and aborted landing.
One witness, who was working in his shop on the north side of the airport, heard the pilot report via radio when he entered the airport area. The witness subsequently heard the pilot report his position on the downwind, base, and final legs of the traffic pattern. The witness next saw the airplane about 100 yards from the threshold of runway 27, with the flaps fully extended and the landing gear retracted. He then warned the pilot, via radio, that the airplane's landing gear was not extended.
As the witness ran toward the runway, he saw the airplane's flaps drag on the runway pavement. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine power increase. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the propeller contacted the runway. The airplane climbed, banked left, and struck trees located about 500 feet before the departure end of the runway.
The witness then followed the path of the airplane in his vehicle. He briefly lost sight of the airplane, and when he next saw it, he observed the engine and propeller "shaking." The airplane then disappeared from his view behind trees.
The witness stated that all of the pilot's radio transmissions were "normal," and stated specifically that the pilot did not make any distress calls, nor did he request any assistance.
Another witness, who was in his hangar on the south side of the airport, stated that he heard an unusual sound and looked up to see the airplane in a steep bank turn, at an altitude of "less than double [the] height of trees." The airplane's landing gear was extended, its speed slowed, and its pitch angle increased. He heard the engine "maintaining the sound of full power," while the airplane turned to the east. The airplane continued to slow, and the pitch angle continued to increase, as the wings leveled. The airplane then descend out of his view. Moments later he heard the sounds of impact.
The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at 39 degrees, 59 minutes north latitude, 75 degrees, 34 minutes west longitude.
The airplane came to rest in a wooded area, adjacent to a reservoir, about 1/2 mile south of the airport. The initial impact point was a large tree, about 50 feet above the terrain elevation. The wreckage path was about 150 feet long, and oriented in a direction of 180 degrees magnetic. The main wreckage came to rest oriented on a 130-degree heading.