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NYC07CA216

2007-09-04 · William-Sodus, New York, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KSDC

N444CF has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (JUST AIRCRAFT LLC HIGHLANDER, built 2024), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper flare at touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the Piper PA28-161 stated that he landed "long" to avoid "swirling winds" around the trees at the approach end of runway 10. After touchdown, he applied back-pressure on the yoke to "keep the nose wheel light," when the nose of the airplane suddenly pitched up. The nose then dropped on the runway and collapsed the nose landing gear, which substantially damaged the airplane. The winds reported about 26 miles west, were from 360 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported that there were no deficiencies with the handling and performance of the airplane. The pilot of the Piper PA28-161 landed "long" to avoid "swirling winds" around the trees at the approach end of runway 10. After touchdown, he applied back-pressure on the yoke to "keep the nose wheel light," when the nose of the airplane suddenly pitched up. The nose then dropped on the runway and collapsed the nose landing gear, which substantially damaged the airplane. The winds reported at Greater Rochester International Airport, 26 miles west, were from 360 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported no deficiencies with the handling and performance of the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2007_NYC07CA216.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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