# Accident 20190331002259A: Piper PA-32-260, Swainsboro, GA, March 31, 2019 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 31, 2019, 11:30 local time - Place: Swainsboro, GA - Airport: East Georgia Regional - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 32.6092° N, 82.3700° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6092&lon=-82.3700&mi=10 - Aircraft: N75242, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 210 total, 160 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA191) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190331002259A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON MARCH 31, 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 A.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA 32-260, N75242, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER IT IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KSBO) IN SWAINSBORO, GA. THERE WAS ONE PERSON ON BOARD WITH NO INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE EAGLE NECK AIRPORT (1GA0) TOWNSEND, GA, AND WAS DESTINED FOR BARROW COUNTY AIRPORT (KWDR) WINDER, GA. THIS WAS A PERSONAL FLIGHT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED EAGLES NECK AIRPORT (1GA0) SOMETIME BETWEEN 10:30 AND 11:00 A.M. WITH APPROXIMATELY 54 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 - 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, HIS RADAR SHOWED WEATHER ISSUES JUST AHEAD, SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND AT THE EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KSBO) ON RUNWAY 32. THE PILOT REPORTED A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING AS HE BELIEVES HE TOUCHED DOWN JUST AFTER THE NUMBERS AROUND 400 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN THE PLANE BEGAN TO VEER OFF TO THE LEFT UNCONTROLLABLY. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SKID TO THE LEFT AND OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS CAUSING THE FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG WIND GUST THAT WAS PUSHING HIM TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL WITH NO MECHANICAL ISSUES. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES. DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE, THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE FIREWALL, WHICH WAS EVIDENT BY BUCKLING IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE ENGINE MOUNT HAD ALSO DISPLAYED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS IT WAS BENT IN SEVERAL PLACES. AN EXAMINATION OF ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT BASED ON THE TIRE MARKS THE AIRCRAFT HAD TOUCHED DOWN JUST AFTER THE 1000? MARKER AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SKID TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE TIRE MARKS CONTINUED ANOTHER 500? AS THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS. A REVIEW OF THE METAR WEATHER REPORT SHOWED AT 1130, WINDS WERE OUT OF THE WEST AT 9 MPH WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND 10 MILES VISIBILITY. AT 1150 WINDS WERE OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH AND GUSTING TO 18 MPH WITH THUNDERSTORMS AND 10 MILES VISIBILITY. ACCORDING TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) RECORDS, THE PILOT IN COMMAND HELD A PRIVATE PILOT ENDORSEMENT WITH RATINGS FOR AIRPLANE SINGLE-ENGINE LAND. AN FAA THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT REPORTED 210 TOTAL HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. THE PILOTS LAST CHECK RIDE OCCURRED ON ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE AIRPLANE WAS ISSUED A STANDARD AIRWORTHINESS AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE IN THE NORMAL CATEGORY ON MAY 7, 1976. THE AIRCRAFT HAD A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION FOR THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE AND PROPELLER THAT WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 22, 2018 WITH A REPORTED HOBBS METER TIME OF 2263.9 HOURS. ## 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 GAA19CA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA191), Mar 31, 2019: Piper PA32 (N75242), Swainsboro, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and the landing gear collapsing. ## Other reports on N75242 (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19860706058229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860706058229I), Jul 6, 1986: Piper PA32260 (N75242), Bridgeport, CT, Minor damage. Bounced and veered on landing striking a VASI light. 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.