# Accident 20230326007599A: Piper PA-28-151, St. Augustine, FL, March 26, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 2023, 11:30 local time
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Airport: Northeast Florida Regional Air
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9593° N, 81.3397° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9593&lon=-81.3397&mi=10
- Aircraft: N541SP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N541SP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-151 (registry code 7102805, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-E3D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 357 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230326007599A

## Narrative

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

A PIPER PA-28,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS ON A PERSONAL NON-REVENUE FLIGHT RETURNED TO NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KSGJ), UPON LANDING ON RUNWAY 13 AND ROLL OUT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO VEER RIGHT AND ONTO THE GRASS AND INTO A DITCH. THE CREW WAS THE PILOT, THAT HOLDS A PRIVATE WITH BASIC MEDICAL SIGN OFF COMPLETED ON 09/20/2021, AND A CIVILIAN PASSENGER. IT WAS STATED THAT THE PASSENGER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION, RELEASE WITH NO INJURIES REPORTED. INITIAL INVESTIGATION SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO INCLUDE THE ENGINE, ENGINE COMPARTMENT, MOUNTS, PROPELLER, AND THE COMPARTMENT BUCKLED. THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO INCLUDE THE WING SURFACE SUSTAINED NOTABLE DAMAGE TO THE CONTROL SURFACES. THE STATEMENT FROM THE PILOT WAS THAT OF POSSIBLE BRAKING CONDITION. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND OBTAINING WEATHER DATA IT APPEARS THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A 17-18 KNOT QUARTER TAIL WIND IN WHICH WOULD CONTRIBUTE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE AIRCRAFT TRACKING RIGHT AND WITH THE RUDDER INPUT DID NOT CHANGE THE COURSE THEREFORE, LOSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE WEATHER REPORT AT THE TIME OF TOUCHDOWN WAS SHOWING 17 TO 18 KNOTS OF A DIRECT TAILWIND AND COINCIDENTLY AFFECTED THE AIRCRAFT CONTROL UPON LANDING, PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT TOWARDS THE DITCH. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE RECORDS AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMED DOES NOT SHOW ANY RECENT MAINTENANCE ACTION INVOLVING THE BRAKES OTHER THAN THE SERVICING AS NEEDED. THIS INSPECTION IMPORTANT SINCE IT WAS THE PILOT’S MAIN STATEMENT CONCERN, AND WITH THAT DID NOT SEE ANY VISUAL OR MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AFTER BEING INSPECTED. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLIES SPUN WITHOUT FRICTION, NO FLAT SPOTS WERE NOTICED, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE SUFFICIENT AND WITHIN SERVICEABLE LIMITS. THE LINES COULD NOT BE NOTED AS THEY WERE CUT BEFORE TRANSPORTING HOWEVER, FLUID WAS VISIBLE DURING THE INSPECTION. THE NTSB WAS ADVISED OF THESE NON-FINDINGS FOR THEIR REPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED TO JACKSONVILLE AIR RECOVERY WHERE IT REMAINS FOR DISPOSAL. THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED WAS RENTED FROM A FLIGHT SCHOOL WITHIN THE SO-15 DISTRICT BASED AT KSGJ. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES APPARENT TO THE LANDING AND WEATHER REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING, NO ACTION OF THE PILOT IS REQUIRED AND CLOSED. THE REPORT WAS SUBMITTED AS REQUIRED.

## 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 ERA23LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA165), Mar 26, 2023: Piper PA-28-151 (N541SP), St. Augustine, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with a ditch.

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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