NYC94LA036

Factual narrative

On Tuesday, December 7, 1993, at about 0845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N4920J, piloted by Mr. Richard Hill (certified flight instructor, CFI), collided with the terrain while on short final approach, for a landing at the Flying "W" Airport, Lumberton, New Jersey. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the two pilots were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the CFI's statement on the NTSB for 6120.1/2, the airplane was on short final for runway 01, when "...I experienced a wind-shear." The CFI said, "...after applying full power, I was unable to stop the descent before the aircraft impacted the ground." After impact the left main gear broke, followed by the collapse of the right main gear, the nose gear, and the propeller striking the ground. The CFI reported on Page 4 of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that the winds at the time of the accident were, "...300 [degrees] at 10 knots, [with gusts to] 13 knots," which is consistent with a left crosswind for a landing on runway 01. According to FAA Inspector, Jesse Kern, the CFI was giving a commercial student instructions, and on this approach they were simulating an engine out. Mr. Kern wrote in his report, that the CFI told him: ...the student was on a glide path which would have put the aircraft on the runway numbers. On final approach a down draft caused the aircraft to descend below the path that would allow it to reach the runway. [The CFI] took over, applied full power and tried to climb, the aircraft struck the ground approximately 100 feet short of the runway... THE CFI WAS GIVING A COMMERCIAL STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS, AND ON THIS APPROACH THEY WERE SIMULATING AN ENGINE OUT. ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 1, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE GLIDEPATH. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, APPLIED FULL POWER AND TRIED TO CLIMB; THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE, 300 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 13 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12