WALTON, NY, USA
N38758
Piper PA-28-181
The pilot and two passengers arrived at their destination airport after a 1 hour flight. The pilot established a final approach to the runway 26, decided that he was too high to land, and performed a go-around. The runway length was 2300 feet. He established a right turn to depart the area, and then 'thought' he saw the airport. He established a second approach and realized that it was not the airport. The pilot initiated a climb out straight ahead, and decided that he did not have enough turning room left or right, and the rising terrain was beyond the climb capability of airplane. The pilot retracted the flaps gradually during climb and the airplane began to sink. With the stall warning on, the pilot selected and flew the airplane into a tall pine tree. The airplane then descended through trees and came to a stop on the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.
On June 6, 1997, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N38758, was destroyed during a collision with terrain and post crash fire near Walton, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Caldwell, New Jersey, about 1400. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the 1 hour flight to Walton was uneventful. The pilot established a final approach to runway 26, decided that he was too high to land, and performed a go-around. He established a right turn to depart the area, and further stated: "...thought I saw airport. Started second approach and realized this was not airport. Started to climb out straight ahead. Had no turning room left or right, and rising terrain was beyond climb capability of aircraft. Retracted flaps gradually during climb and began to sink...I could not out climb the hill, airspeed was 60 kts IAS, stall warning was activated. I chose a tall pine tree to soften the controlled impact. Descended through trees and came to sudden stop on ground..." The pilot indicated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 , there was no mechanical problem with the airplane.
The pilot's improper inflight decision to establish an approach without confirming the landing area, and his delayed go-around, which resulted in the inflight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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