Piper PA-23-160 accident near Hampton, New Hampshire, July 5, 1997
On July 5, 1997 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N4022P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, New Hampshire (Hampton Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's poor judgement for intentionally shutting down an engine to perform a practice single engine landing, which led to a single engine go-around due to conflicting traffic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1997 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, New Hampshire · Hampton Airfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4022P · registry record · serial 23-1497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot shut down the left engine on the downwind leg for a practice single engine approach to the 2,100 foot grass runway. Prior to landing, the pilot noticed an airplane taking off in the opposite direction. The pilot performed a single engine go around and sidestepped to the right of the runway to avoid the other airplane. The flaps were pumped up and the landing gear was left down. Unable to maintain a positive rate of climb, the pilot turned left toward a clear area. Upon completion of the turn, the left wing and landing gear snagged power lines pulling the airplane to the ground about 300 feet west of the runway. The pilot did not report any malfunctions of the airplane.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,515 hours in all; 367 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command; 577 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1997; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B3 at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,100 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from PSM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4022P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.