Piper PA-28-140 accident near Barker, New York, August 5, 1989
On August 5, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4348X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barker, New York (Major 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 DECISION TO ABORT THE LANDING TOO FAR DOWN THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR WAS: THE SMALL TREE LOCATED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Barker, New York · Major · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4348X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7625017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT STATED HE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/3 THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY BUT THE SURFACE PROVIDED LITTLE OR NO BRAKING ACTION. REALIZING THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP, HE ADDED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND. FLYING SPEED WAS ATTAINED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND DURING LIFT-OFF THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A SMALL TREE OUTBOARD OF THE RIGHT WHEEL WHICH BECAME EMBEDDED 6 TO 8 INCHES INTO THE WING. THE PILOT THROTTLED THE ENGINE FULL BACK AND LANDED, COMING TO REST ABOUT 200 FEET OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 403 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 364 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,100 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IAG Niagara Falls NY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Barker NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,200 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
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.
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.