# Accident 19950531014429A: Piper PA28161, Bluffton, OH, May 31, 1995

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 1995, 14:00 local time
- Place: Bluffton, OH
- Airport: Bluffton Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8902° N, 83.8803° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8902&lon=-83.8803&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8115L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8115L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O320D3G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 75 total, 55 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC95LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950531014429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

STUDENT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL LANDING. SLID SIDEWAYS INTO A DITCH. COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR. WRINKLED FUSELAGE. (-23) ON MAY 31, 1995, MR. GARY R. LEMAITRE (STUDENT CERT #DD0158441) DEPARTED SANDUSKY, OH., IN N8115L, A PA 28-161, SER #28-8016119 FOR BLUFFTON, OH., TO TAKE HIS PRIVATE PILOT CHECK RIDE. UPON LANDING ROLLOUT AT BLUFFTON MR. LEMAITRE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD A 50 DEGREE, 9 KNOT CROSSWIND AND TRIED TO CORRECT FOR IT, ADDITIONALLY, HE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES NOTED ON THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC95LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA128), May 31, 1995: Piper PA-28-161 (N8115L), Bluffton, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: an improperly planned approach and touchdown, which resulted in an loss of directional control at touchdown, with the airplane departing the runway, and striking a ravine.

## Other reports on N8115L (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19850708041099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850708041099I), Jul 8, 1985: Piper PA28161 (N8115L), Sandusky, OH, Minor damage. Aircraft was high and fast on landing, bounced and made long touchdown. Ran off end of runway, nose gear collapsed.
- [Accident 19830820043299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830820043299A), Aug 20, 1983: Piper PA28161 (N8115L), Bryan, TX, Substantial damage. Crash occurred when student pilot attempted landing on airport closed to public. Pilot claimed engine problem.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.