20090317004049A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-250 · San Luis Obisp, CA · March 17, 2009

Date: March 17, 2009 · 15:00 local
Place: San Luis Obisp, CA
Airport: San Luis County Regional
Phase of flight: Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8215P
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR09CA157
Reported as: Piper PA24250
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 200 total18 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days

N8215PRegistered now · Piper PA-24-250S/N 24-3468 · Built 1963 Airframe modelPiper PA-24-250 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23)Pilot stated he was performing a slip/crabbing into the wind due ot the crosswinds (33/12G18) for landing on rwy 29. Pilot stated upon touch down, the downwind main landing gear (MLG) touch first instead of the upwind MLG. Pilot stated at that point he lost directional control of the aircraft and it excited to the left, departing the runway, down a ravine and coming to a stop after slamming into a fence. The aircraft suffered substantial damage. No injuries were reported.

As the FAA filed it

(-23)PILOT STATED HE WAS PERFORMING A SLIP/CRABBING INTO THE WIND DUE OT THE CROSSWINDS (33/12G18) FOR LANDING ON RWY 29. PILOT STATED UPON TOUCH DOWN, THE DOWNWIND MAIN LANDING GEAR (MLG) TOUCH FIRST INSTEAD OF THE UPWIND MLG. PILOT STATED AT THAT POINT HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT EXCITED TO THE LEFT, DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, DOWN A RAVINE AND COMING TO A STOP AFTER SLAMMING INTO A FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR09CA157Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSan Luis Obispo, CAThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswinds during touchdown.Mar 17, 2009 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8215P · 3

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

Incident 19941120045229ILevel Off Touchdown · Kellogg, IDFailed to extend landing gear prior to landing.Nov 20, 1994 · Minor damage Accident 19881115066039AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Port Royal, VALowering weather and near dark with instrument problems. Landed on a road striking a sign. Possible master not on.Nov 15, 1988 · Substantial damage Incident 19861017079579IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Raleigh-Durham, NCOn rollout, pilot inadvertantly retracted the gear instead of the flaps.Oct 17, 1986 · Minor damage