Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32R-300 near White Plains, NY — 2025-09-23

Final reportERA25LA363
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Date
2025-09-23
Location
White Plains, NY, USA
Airport
HPN
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32R-300
Registration
N47630
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in a collision with the runway lighting system. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s momentary disorientation due to glare from the runway approach lighting system.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s momentary disorientation due to glare from the runway approach lighting system.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the airplane in night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that during the turn to final approach, the tower air traffic controller cleared a large transport-category airplane for departure. To avoid potential wake turbulence, the pilot adjusted the planned touchdown point to be before the expected rotation point of the departing airplane. While reconfiguring for the new touchdown point, the pilot encountered glare from the runway approach lighting system, which temporarily degraded his night vision and momentary disoriented him. The airplane then began to sink and as the pilot was making corrective control inputs he felt a “bump,” after which he landed uneventfully. Subsequent examination of the runway’s approach lighting system and the airplane revealed that the airplane had struck the runway lighting system before touchdown, resulting in substantial damage to the root sections of both wings and the right side of the stabilator. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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