# NTSB ATL94LA008: Piper PA-28-161, N9778C, Lexington, NC, October 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1993, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Lexington, NC - Coordinates: 35.799419, -80.250366 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7994&lon=-80.2504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA008 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport facility ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 8, AND THAT AFTER A FEW FEET OF LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRPLANE AND PUSHED IT OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 060 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, HIT A BERM, AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A HANGAR. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1993, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N9778C, collided with a hangar during landing at the Lexington Municipal Airport, Lexington, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by Southeast Airmotive Corp., under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the solo, cross-country, instructional flight. The student pilot had minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Charlotte, North Carolina, with an intervening landing at Sanford, North Carolina. The flight departed Sanford at 1330. The pilot provided the following information: during the landing approach to runway 8 at Lexington, the wind sock was "not fluttering." Just before touchdown the wind was calm. During the landing roll a gust of wind from the right lifted the airplane and blew it to the left. The nose wheel rolled up an incline beside the runway, pitched the nose up, and the airplane bounced into the air. Afterwards, he said, the airplane could not be controlled. The pilot said he had received crosswind landing instruction which consisted of using rudder and aileron to counter the wind and allow it to blow the airplane back to the runway centerline. ## 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: 5656 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southeast Airmotive, Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1993 - Departed: W77, SANFORD, NC - Destination: EXX - Airport: EXX, Lexington Municipal, runway 8, 3,295 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 53 total, 53 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GSO, 25 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 19931023044779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931023044779A), Oct 23, 1993: Piper PA28161, Lexington, NC, Substantial damage. Wind calm on approach. Gust raised wing on landing roll. Veered off runway bounced on a rise. Lost control. ## 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 ATL86LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA142), May 24, 1986: Piper PA-28-161 (N9778C), Statesville, NC, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.