# NTSB BFO92LA041: Piper PA-46-350P, N872RJ, Doylestown, PA, March 16, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1992, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Doylestown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.310626, -75.120536 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3106&lon=-75.1205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11772
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11772/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA041

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TOUCHDOWN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY 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 - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - pole

## Analysis

DURING TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 23 AT DOYLESTOWN AIRPORT, DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A TURBULENT GUST OF WIND AND THE RIGHT WING ROSE ABRUPTLY.  THE PILOT STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH HE INPUT FULL AILERON AND ALMOST FULL RUDDER, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A WIND SOCK POLE AND WIND TEE.  THERE WAS NO REPORTED AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO HITTING THE WIND SOCK POLE.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N872RJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-350P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4622028
- Airframe hours: 464
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Raymond J. Cawley
- Registered owner: Gull Leasing Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 1992, 84 hours before
- Departed: CHS, CHARLESTON, SC
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: N88, Doylestown Airport, runway 23, 3,004 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,149 total, 408 in this make and model, 971 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABE, 1 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 19920316006479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920316006479A), Mar 16, 1992: Piper PA46350P, Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. Right wing came up on wind gust. Veered off runway into windsock pole. Full flaps. Excessive crosswind were factors

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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