ATL06CA081

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA28-140 · Murfreesboro, TN · May 18, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 18, 2006, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
Place
Murfreesboro, TN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9902WPiper PA28-140
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Nashville FSDO-03
Case key
63709

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - crosswind
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

The student pilot stated that he departed Smyrna, Tennessee, and flew direct to Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Upon arrival he listened to the Airport Terminal Information System information and observed the wind sock which indicated a right crosswind. The student pilot overflew the airport at midfield, descended, entered left traffic for runway 18, completed the before landing checklist, lowered flaps to one notch, and turned on the base leg. The student pilot turned the airplane on final approach, reduced airspeed, lowered flaps to the second notch, and entered right aileron for the crosswind correction. The power was reduced 30 feet from his intended touchdown point. The airplane touched down on the runway, and the cross wind correction was removed on landing roll out. The airplane veered to the right, the student pilot applied left rudder, and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane turned 90-degrees, slid sideways off the side of the runway, and collided with a ditch coming to a complete stop. The student pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident, and he just lost directional control of the airplane.

Factual narrative

On May 18, 2006, at 1040 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N9902W, registered to and operated by Maxair Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with a ditch on landing roll out at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Smyrna Airport, Smyrna, Tennessee, on May 18, 2006, at 1025.

The student pilot stated he departed Smyrna and flew direct to Murphreesboro. Upon arrival he listened to the Airport Terminal Information System information and observed the wind sock which indicated a right crosswind. The student pilot over flew the airport at midfield, descended, entered left traffic for runway 18, completed the before landing checklist, lowered flaps to one notch, and turned on the base leg. The student pilot turned the airplane on final approach, reduced airspeed, lowered flaps to the second notch, and entered right aileron for the crosswind correction. The power was reduced 30 feet from his intended touch down point. The airplane touched down on the runway, and the cross wind correction was removed on landing roll out. The airplane veered to the right, the student pilot applied left rudder, and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane turned 90-degrees, slide sideways off the side of the runway, and collided with a ditch coming to a complete stop. The student pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident, and he just lost directional control of the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N9902W
Reported as
Piper PA28-140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-23422
Airframe hours
4,095
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Maxair Inc.
Registered owner
Maxair Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · March 1, 2006 · 64 hours before
Departed
KMQY · Smyrna, TN
Destination
KMBT · Murphreesboro, TN
Airport
KMBT · Murphreesboro Municipal, runway 18, 3,898 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
42 total · 28 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg
Observed at
KMQY, 10 nm away