Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, March 8, 2024
On March 8, 2024 at about 2:46 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N3023K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Lehigh Valley International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 a proper descent rate during the final approach, resulting in a hard landing and collision with a runway edge light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2024 · about 2:46 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Allentown, Pennsylvania · Lehigh Valley International · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201, built 1978 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3023K · registry record · serial 28R-7918022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was on short final approach for landing when he encountered a windshear. The airplane started to sink toward the runway. He added power; however, it was too late due to his altitude. Upon touchdown, the airplane landed hard, breaking two runway threshold lights from their mounts . An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the airport surface weather observations revealed no reports of wind gusts or variable wind before or after the accident.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 915 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 736 as pilot in command; 38 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 2024; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 296 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDW Caldwell NJ at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 7,599 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 am from KABE
Weather report (METAR): KABE 081451Z 08010KT 10SM CLR 07/M01 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP264 T00721006 50009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 2 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 3 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 4 – Runway Threshold Light DamageThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 12, 2024. 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 | NTSB Memorandum of Record - Abe Weather | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N3023K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3023K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lehigh Valley International · nearest airport
- Essex County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Pennsylvania 1,836 since 1982 · 234 in the last ten years
- Pennsylvania 6,195 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N3023K 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA24LA132.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.