# Accident 20090226004349A: Piper PA28140, Ridgeland, SC, February 26, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2009, 15:00 local time
- Place: Ridgeland, SC
- Airport: Ridgeland
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4925° N, 80.9922° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4925&lon=-80.9922&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4981T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4981T-2010-09-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 150 total, 40 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090226004349A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VMC.  WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTH AT AN ESTIMATED 10 KTS GUSTING TO 16.  THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED ONE TAKE-OFF FROM RUNWAY 21 AND RETURNED FOR A LANDING BELIEVING HE WAS NOT PRODUCING FULL POWER.  AFTER COMPLETING ANOTHER URN-UP, HE DEPARTED RUNWAY 21 AGAIN.  PILOT STATED HE BELIEVED HE WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER AGAIN, REMAINED BELOW 200 FEET AND RETURNED ON RUNWAY 03.  THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED AT A HIGH BANK ANGLE RETURNING TO THE RUNWAY AND  LEVELED OUT OVER THE RUNWAY AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL ALTITUDE AND SLOW SPEED.  WITNESSES SAW THE RIGHT WING DROP AND CONTACT THE RUNWAY WITH A RAPID PITCH UP AND FOLLOWED BY A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT.  ALL LANDING GEARS DETACHED FROM THE AIRCAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT SLIDE LESS THAN 100 FEET.  GROUND SCARS INDICATE SIGNIFICANT ENGINE POWER AT THE TIME OF PROPELLER/SURFACE  CONTACT.

## 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 ERA09LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA176), Feb 26, 2009: Piper PA-28-140 (N4981T), Ridgeland, SC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N4981T (2)

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

- [Incident 19860617039799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860617039799I), Jun 17, 1986: Piper PA28140 (N4981T), Kremmling, CO, Minor damage. Solo student made a hard landing with a bounce. Nose wheel sheared off.
- [Accident 19730319004329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730319004329A), Mar 19, 1973: Piper PA28140 (N4981T), Johns Island, SC, Substantial damage. Rounded out hi,pushed nose ovr,bounced twice on nose gr.

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.

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