Piper PA24-250 accident near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1999
On July 31, 1999 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA24-250, registered N5801P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greencastle, Pennsylvania (Cumberland Valley 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 misjudgement of speed and distance during the approach and his failure to perform a go around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1999 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greencastle, Pennsylvania · Cumberland Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24-250 · all PA24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5801P · no longer on the register · serial 24881
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on approach to a 1,800 foot long, turf runway. When the airplane was above the runway threshold, the pilot pulled the power back; however, the airplane 'floated' about 1,000 feet down the runway. The pilot then retracted the flaps and the airplane touched down. The pilot stated that braking action on the runway was poor, and when he noticed the airplane was approaching the trees located at the end of the runway, he intentionally 'ground-looped' the airplane. The airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,065 hours in all; 915 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPT Williamsport PA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 74W
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from HGR, 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.
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.