# Accident 20120315003049A: Piper PA-28R-180, Dover, TN, March 15, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 2012, 12:45 local time
- Place: Dover, TN
- Airport: Short Creek (Pvt)
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.4008° N, 87.9917° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4008&lon=-87.9917&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3779T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3779T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,274 total, 70 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA232) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120315003049A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF N3779T INITIATED A TAKE OFF FROM SHORT CREEK (8TN7), RUNWAY 25, SHORTLY AFTER A RAIN SHOWER.  JUST BEFORE AND DURING ROTATION, HE EXPERIENCED A STRONG CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT. IN SPITE OF CONTROL INPUTS, HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT FROM DRIFTING TO THE LEFT.  THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A STACK OF THREE PAINTED TIRES THAT WERE USED AS SIDE RUNWAY MARKINGS. ON CLIMB OUT, THE PILOT CYCLED THE GEAR ONCE UP THEN ONCE DOWN. WITH ONLY THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR INDICATING DOWN AND LOCKED, HE RETURNED AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 25. DURING THE LANDING ROLE, HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, EVEN THOUGH THE LEFT MAIN COLLAPSED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

## 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 ERA12CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA232), Mar 15, 2012: Piper PA-28R-180 (N3779T), Dover, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with an object and a landing gear collapse during the subsequent landing.

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.