# NTSB BFO92LA103: Piper PA-28-181, N75255, Pikesville, KY, July 19, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1992, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Pikesville, KY - Coordinates: 37.47068, -82.509246 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4707&lon=-82.5092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA103 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE. AND OBJECTS NEAR THE RUNWAY. ## 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 - improper, pilot in command (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 - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE FLARED TOO HIGH, AND ALTHOUGH HE INCREASED POWER TO CORRECT, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD. THE AIRPLANE THEN VEERED LEFT, EXITED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND STRUCK TREES AND A PARKED VEHICLE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1992 at about 1145 edt, N75255, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, a personal flight, crashed while landing at Pikeville County Regional Airport/Hatcher Field, Pikeville, Kentucky. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was returning to the airport after an hour flight. During the landing the airplane went off the left side of the runway. The airplane struck trees and a parked vehicle. According to the pilot, "All phases of the approach were normal. Approaching runway 20. I flared a little high and added a little power for touch down. The plane landed hard on to the runway and veered to the left side of the runway. After the plane left the runway, I applied brakes and skidded (about) 200 to 300 feet down the left side of the runway. "I managed to bring the plane back nearly parallel to the runway when the left wing came in contact with some small trees and then a larger one, causing the plane to turn left, and as it did the right wing came in contact with a tractor mower, and then came to a stop." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75255](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75255), registered now, S/N 28-7690318, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7690318 - Airframe hours: 3582 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Twin Eagle Flying Club - Registered owner: Twin Eagle Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1992, 21 hours before - Departed: 7K0 - Destination: 7K0, KY - Airport: 7K0, Pike County Regional, runway 20, 3,550 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 122 total, 3 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 19920719025969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920719025969A), Jul 19, 1992: Piper PA28181, Pikeville, KY, Substantial damage. Flared high on landing. Dropped to runway. Lost control. Veered off runway struck trees and parked tractor mower. 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.