Saturday, April 06, 2019

Collision During Landing: Piper PA-28-180, N8397W; accident occurred March 29, 2019 at Monroe County Airport (M40), Aberdeen/Amory, Mississippi











Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Jackson, Mississippi

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket 


Location: Aberdeen, MS
Accident Number: CEN19TA112
Date & Time: 03/29/2019, 1745 CDT
Registration: N8397W
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis

The pilot and the passenger, who had recently purchased the airplane, were repositioning the airplane to the destination airport. According to the passenger, who was a student pilot, the pilot was acting as the pilot-in-command and was manipulating the flight controls. The passenger stated that the flight was uneventful until landing. During the landing flare, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left after touchdown. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the pilot applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing, the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch. The pilot had no memory of the accident flight. The postaccident airplane examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The flaps were found fully extended. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control during landing and that the airplane did not gain enough altitude during the go-around attempt to avoid the airport perimeter fence.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a collision with a fence and impact with terrain during the attempted aborted landing.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information


On March 29, 2019, at 1745 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N8397W, collided with an airport perimeter fence and a ditch after an aborted landing at Monroe County Airport, (M40), Aberdeen/Amory, Mississippi. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport (HAB), Hamilton, Alabama about 1715.

The passenger, who held a student pilot certificate with about 40 hours of flight time, stated that he had recently purchased the airplane and planned to take lessons from a flight instructor at M40 on April 1, 2019. He and the private pilot intended to reposition the airplane to M40 where it was to be refueled for the upcoming flight instruction. He stated the private pilot was acting as the pilot in command and was manipulating the flight controls. He added that the flight was uneventful until the landing at M40. During the landing flare, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the private pilot applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing the airplane collided with the north-south airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch (figure 1).

Figure 1 – Accident airplane in a ditch 

After the airplane impacted the ditch, the private pilot was unconscious for a few minutes until first responders arrived. The pilot was taken to a local hospital and treated for a concussion. He reported that he has no memory of the accident flight.

A review of the airport surveillance video revealed the wind was from the south about 10 knots.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector completed a postaccident examination of the airplane on April 1, 2019. The flaps were found fully extended and the flight control cables were continuous. The nose landing gear was impact damaged; the corresponding rudder cable was off of the pulley and the cable's attachment point to the rudder pedal was broken. The examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector's photos revealed tire tracks in the grass where the airplane exited the runway. The tire tracks continued left across the taxiway and led to a knocked over fence post and metal fence laid on the ground toward the airplane. The airplane came to rest facing northwest toward the runway 18 threshold (figure 2).

Figure 2 – Airplane in a ditch facing toward the runway 18 threshold


History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown Loss of control on ground
Landing-aborted after touchdown  Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)

Pilot-Rated Passenger Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 36, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/10/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 40 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/19/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/24/2018
Flight Time:  819.1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 7.9 hours (Total, this make and model), 664 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 35.1 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.8 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N8397W
Model/Series: PA28 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1965
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-2607
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/16/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5687.78 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: O-360-A3A
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KM40, 227 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1755 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 205°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 180°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.82 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 13°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hamilton, AL (HAB)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Aberdeen, MS (M40)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1715 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Monroe County (M40)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 225 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 18
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4999 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor

Latitude, Longitude:  33.877778, -88.487500 (est)

Location: Aberdeen, MS
Accident Number: CEN19LA112
Date & Time: 03/29/2019, 1750 CDT
Registration: N8397W
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On March 29, 2019, at 1750 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N8397W, collided with an airport perimeter fence and a ditch after a runway excursion at Monroe County Airport, (M40), Aberdeen/Amory, Mississippi. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport (HAB), Hamilton, Alabama about 1715.

The passenger, who is also student pilot, stated that he had recently purchased the airplane and planned to take lessons from a flight instructor at M40 on April 1, 2019. He and the private pilot intended to reposition the airplane to M40 where it was to be refueled for the upcoming flight instruction. The private pilot was acting as the pilot in command and was manipulating the flight controls. He added that the flight was uneventful until the landing at M40. During landing, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the private pilot attempted to go around. During the go-around the airplane collided with the north-south airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch (figure 1).


Figure 1 – Accident airplane 

A review of the airport surveillance video revealed the wind was from the south about 5 knots.

The airplane has been retained for further examination. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N8397W
Model/Series: PA28 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KM40, 227 ft msl
Observation Time: 1755 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 13°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.82 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Hamilton, AL (HAB)
Destination: Aberdeen, MS (M40)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  33.877778, -88.487500 (est)

2 comments:

  1. I wonder if the pilot in command was pressured by the owner/student to let him make the landing? Wind was coming straight down the runway so not sure why directional control was lost. Well it looked like it was a nice plane, now it will end up soda cans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Report states the certificated pilot was in command and manipulating the controls.

      Lots of things could have happened.

      Delete