# NTSB ATL86LA142: Piper PA-28-161, N9778C, Statesville, NC, May 24, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 1986, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Statesville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.779411, -80.879463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7794&lon=-80.8795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7110
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7110/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA142

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL AND TOUCHDOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHILE COMPETING IN A POWER OFF SPOT LANDING COMPETITION. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY SIMPLY ADDING POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9778C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9778C-1998-02-13), registration cancelled 1998-02-13, S/N 287816528 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7816528
- Airframe hours: 5763
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Southeast Airmotive Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 1986, 50 hours before
- Airport: SVH, Stateville, runway 28, 4,518 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 630 total, 150 in this make and model, 457 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Observed at: HKY

## 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 19860524019629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860524019629A), May 24, 1986: Piper PA28161, Statesville, NC, Substantial damage. Came in short during spot landing contest. Did not add power to keep in contest. Stalled. Impacted the ground.

## Other investigations on N9778C (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 ATL94LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA008), Oct 23, 1993: Piper PA-28-161 (N9778C), Lexington, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.

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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