# NTSB ATL06CA105: Piper PA-28-161, N546CA, Griffin, GA, July 14, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 14, 2006, 08:43 local (12:43 UTC)
- Place: Griffin, GA
- Coordinates: 33.222778, -84.271385
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2228&lon=-84.2714&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO-11
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64109
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64109/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA105

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain direction control of the airplane during the landing roll.

## 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 collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - hangar/airport building

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that this was his second solo flight, and he planned on staying in the pattern to perform a full stop landing. On short final the student pilot lined up the airplane with the centerline on the runway. As the airplane touched down, it veered to right, and the pilot over corrected to the left. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the student pilot panicked and added power. The airplane overran the taxiway, and collided with a hangar. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On July 14, 2006, at 0843 eastern daylight time, A Piper PA-28-161, N546CA, registered to Christiansen Aviation Incorporated, and operated by a private individual as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with a hanger during landing at the Griffin-Spalding County Airport, Griffin, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed the Griffin-Spalding County Airport, Griffin, Georgia, on July 14, 2006, at 0830.

The student pilot stated that this was his second solo flight, and he planned on staying in the pattern to perform a full stop landing. On short final the student pilot lined up the airplane with the centerline on the runway. As he touched down the airplane veered to right, and he over corrected to the left. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the student pilot panicked and added power. The airplane overran the taxiway, and collided with a hanger. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N546CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N546CA-2012-09-20), registration cancelled 2012-09-20, S/N 28-7816657, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7816657
- Airframe hours: 7280.4
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006, 28 hours before
- Departed: 6A2, GRIFFIN, GA
- Airport: 6A2, Griffin-Spalding County, runway 32, 3,701 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 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 20060714014139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060714014139A), Jul 14, 2006: Piper PA28161, Griffin, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot [privacy data omitted] was attempting to perform his second solo landing. Just prior to touchdown the aircraft nose drifted to the left. On…

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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