Piper PA22 accident near White Plains, New York, April 3, 2023
On April 3, 2023 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1957 Piper PA22, registered N8500D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near White Plains, New York (Westchester County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout in gusting wind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2023 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- White Plains, New York · Westchester County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 160, built 1957 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N8500D · registry record · serial 22-5727
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed in gusting wind. He reported that after touchdown the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct with aileron and rudder; however, the airplane departed the runway, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,797 hours in all; 2,356 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 4,680 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 2022; 18.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-B2A (piston); 2,511 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N30 Honesdale PA at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,549 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from HPN
Weather report (METAR): KHPN 031856Z 15015G22KT 10SM CLR 13/M01 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP175 T01281006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane from left wingtip
Photo 2 – View of airplane from tail
Photo 3 – View of left wing root and fuselage damage
Photo 4 – View of the left wingtip where it contacted the grass
Photo 5 – View of airplane from right rear
Photo 6 – View of damage at the right wing root and fuselageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8500D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 2,943 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O320-B2A 11 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Westchester County · nearest airport
- Cherry Ridge Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New York 1,964 since 1982 · 249 in the last ten years
- New York 6,663 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA186.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.