# Accident 20161019020499A: Piper PA-28-140, Fresno, CA, October 19, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 2016, 14:40 local time
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Airport: Fresno Yosemite International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7717° N, 119.7083° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7717&lon=-119.7083&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5541F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5541F-2020-02-28) (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 PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,400 total, 650 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161019020499A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT KFAT ( FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL AIRPORT) ON HIS LAST LANDING THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO LEVEL OFF AT ABOUT 5-10 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY AND THEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 29L.  THE PILOT WAS FOUND UNCONCIOUS WHEN THE AIRPORT RESCUE VEHICLES ARRIVED.  HE DID NOT HAVE SHOULDER HARNESSES INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT THEM.

PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA IIC THAT HE SAW THE RIGHT WING DROPPING AND THE GROUND RUSING UP.  HE SAID IT WAS HIS PILOT ERROR.  VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND WINDS WERE LIGHT.  PILOT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND WAS RELEASE THE FOLLOWING DAY.  NO PASSENGERS WERE ON BOARD.

## 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 GAA17CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA035), Oct 19, 2016: Piper PA 28 (N5541F), Fresno, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during departure due to being distracted by looking for his phone.

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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