# NTSB ATL05CA069: Piper PA-28-140, N6651W, Griffin, GA, April 4, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 4, 2005, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Griffin, GA
- Coordinates: 33.226943, -84.274719
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2269&lon=-84.2747&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61261/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA069

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a ditch.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 32. During the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and veered off the left side approximately 300 feet down from the approach end of the runway threshold. Post examination of the airplane revealed that it collided with a ditch, and the nosewheel was bent aft up towards the fuselage, and the left wing spar was buckled. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On April 4, 2005, at 1820 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6651W registered to and operated by Cherokee Group, collided in a ditch at the Griffin Spaulding Airport, Griffin, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was uninjured. The flight departed Griffin Airport, Georgia, April 4, 2005, at 1814.

According to the pilot, he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 32. During landing roll the airplane veered off the left side of the runway approximately 300 feet from the approach end of the runway and collided with a ditch threshold.

Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that it collided with a ditch, and the nose wheel was bent aft up towards the fuselage, and the left wing spar was buckled. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6651W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6651W), registered now, S/N 28-21277 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-21277
- Airframe hours: 3400
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cherokee Group
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2004
- Departed: 6A2, GRIFFIN, GA
- Destination: 6A2, GRIFFIN, GA
- Airport: 6A2, Griffin-Spalding County, runway 32, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KOPN, 16 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20050404005439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050404005439A), Apr 4, 2005: Piper PA28140, Griffin, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) At Griffin-Spalding county (6A2) airport, the student pilot was intending to conduct touch and go pattern work on runway 32. During the first landing…

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.

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