# NTSB CEN11LA093: Piper PA-28-140, N8320R, Ponca City, OK, December 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2010, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Ponca City, OK - Coordinates: 36.731945, -97.099723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7319&lon=-97.0997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 77935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA093 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during landing for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that the airplane rolled inverted on final approach and then impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the accident site and airplane revealed the airplane bounced several times during landing and the left wing struck the ground, separating it from the fuselage. The airplane became inverted, skidded across the grass median and taxiway, and collided with a chain link fence. Recorded wind at the time of the accident were aligned with the runway heading at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 4, 2010, approximately 1245 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N8320R, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain and a fence while attempting to land at Ponca City Municipal Airport (PNC), Ponca City, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The flight originated at Seminole (H45), Oklahoma, approximately 1115. According to the passenger's father, his son and the pilot were flying to Ponca City to have lunch. A lineman saw the airplane approaching runway 35, but turned away and did not see the accident. According to television news reports, there was one eyewitness. Efforts to contact the witness were unsuccessful, but he stated on camera that he was headed to work and was approaching the intersection of Ash and Hartford. He saw the bottom of the plane facing him and it rolled inverted and crashed. Emergency personnel received the 9-1-1 call at 1247. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene said he found evidence that the airplane landed on runway 35 and bounced. PERSONNEL (CREW) INFORMATION The pilot, age 30, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He also held a third class airman medical certificate, dated January 14, 2009, with no restrictions or limitations. His last flight review was dated April 23, 2009, when he took the private pilot practical test. The pilot's logbook was made available for inspection. The logbook contained entries from December 20, 2008, through November 27, 2010. According to the logbook, the pilot soloed in a Cessna 172 on February 14, 2009, and was issued his private pilot certificate on April 23, 2009. The pilot began flying the Piper PA-28-140 on August 28, 2010. In addition to the pilot's logbook, a copy of the airplane's daily flight record was made available for inspection. The entries coincided with those in the pilot's logbook, and contained two additional entries: a flight made on the day of the accident for 0.6 hours, and the accident flight. The Hobbs Meter reading prior to the accident flight was 467.2. The Hobbs Meter reading at the accident site was 468.7, a difference of 1.5 hours. Combining these two documents, the following represents the pilot's flight time (in hours): Total time: 132.8 Pilot-in-Command/Solo: 95.3 Cessna 172: 92.1 Piper PA-28-140: 40.7 Night: 3.8 Simulated Instrument: 3.6 Actual Instruments: 0.5 Cross-country: 24.8 Total Flight Instruction Received: 42.8 Flight Instruction Received, PA-28-140: 2.2 The student pilot-passenger, age 23, did not hold a pilot certificate. He applied for medical certification in January 2003, and on September 8, 2010. FAA sent him a letter on October 18, 2010, requesting additionalmedical information. When he did not respond, FAA issued a letter of denial on December 2, 2010. On the two medical certificate applications, he estimated his flight time to be 11.7 hours and 25 hours, respectively. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N8320R (serial number 28-22191) was manufactured by the Piper Aircraft Corporation in 1966. It was powered by a Lycoming 0-320-E2A engine (serial number L-17391-27A), upgraded to 160 horsepower, driving a Sensenich 2-blade, all metal, fixed pitch propeller (model number M74DM). According to the maintenance records, annual and 100-hour inspections were completed on July 19, 2010. At that time, the tachometer read 5,477 hours, and the engine had accrued 584 hours since it was overhauled on October 8, 2001. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The following weather was reported at Ponca City (PNC): PNC (1253): Wind, 350 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility, 10 miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 7 degrees Celcius (C.); dew point, 4 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 30.33 inches of Mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Evidence found at the scene indicated the airplane struck the ground with its left wing, separating it from the fuselage. The airplane became inverted and skidded across the grass median and taxiway, and collided with a chain link fence. Photographs taken of the airplane's instrument panel disclosed the following: Airspeed Indicator - 0 Directional Gyro - 169 Degrees Turn & Slip - Left bank (2x standard rate turn) Vertical Speed - 100 FPM Down Altimeter - Approximately 1,000 Feet Tachometer - 0; 5,514:30 hours Hobbs Meter - 468.7 Clock - 1:07 (stopped) Magnetos - Both Throttle - Full forward Carburetor Heat - 1/2" Out Boost Pump - On Transponder - 1200 (Mode C) ADF - 278 KHz (Off) Cabin Heat - Off Cabin Air - Off Master Switch - Off Primer - In and Locked Flaps - 2nd Notch (25 Degrees) Control continuity was established, and no anomalies were noted. According to the Ponca City fire chief, his personnel were unable to determine seating positions of the occupants: the passenger was halfway out of the shattered left cabin window, and the pilot was laying on top of him. The chief said neither seatbelt was fastened, and neither seatbelt had been cut. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The pilot was airlifted by medevac helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. He was later tranferred to a rehabilitation hospital. Toxicology testing was not performed. The student pilot-passenger was transported by ambulance to the Ponca City Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. According to the autopsy report, death was attributed to Multiple blunt force trauma. According to the student pilot-passenger's toxicology report, there was no carbon monoxide or cyanide in the blood, and there was no ethanol in the vitreous humor. Atropine and Lidocaine, however, were detected in the liver and cavity blood. According to the Ponca City fire chief, paramedics did not administer thesedrugs. According to a spokesperson for the Ponca City Regional Medical Center, both atropine and lidocaine were administered to the patient in a resuscitation attempt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8320R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8320R-2011-03-24), registration cancelled 2011-03-24, S/N 28-22191, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-22191 - Airframe hours: 5514 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth R. & Matthew T. Green - Registered owner: Kenneth R. & Matthew T. Green - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2010, 37 hours before - Departed: H45, Seminole, OK - Destination: PNC, Ponca City, OK - Airport: PNC, Ponca City Regional, runway 35, 7,201 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2009; toxicology performed; flight hours: 133 total, 40 in this make and model, 95 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: fatal; student; toxicology performed; flight hours: 25 total - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: fatal; student; toxicology performed - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: fatal; student; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: PNC ## 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 20101204053909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101204053909A), Dec 4, 2010: Piper PA-28-140, Ponca City, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft attempted to land but bounced, rolled and flipped over on its canopy. Ref: block 32-G, unknown which person was the pilot-in-command and the survivor… ## Docket (21 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77935. 10.9 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum-Master.PDF - Aerial Photograph, Ponca City Regional Airport (item 3, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20Photograph,%20Ponca%20City%20Regional%20Airport-Master.PDF - Satellite Photograph, Ponca City Regional Airport (item 4, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20Photograph,%20Ponca%20City%20Regional%20Airport-Master.PDF - Street Map, Ponca City Municipal Airport (item 5, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Street%20Map,%20Ponca%20City%20Municipal%20Airport-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 6, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Toxicology Reports, Kenneth R. Green (item 7, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345547&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicology%20Reports,%20Kenneth%20R.%20Green-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - View to the north. The threshold of runway 17 is at far right. Note ground furrows in foreground. (item 8, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20to%20the%20north.%20The%20threshold%20of%20runway%2017%20is%20at%20far%20right.%20Note%20ground%20furrows%20in%20foreground.-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - View to the south and the departure end of runway 17 (far left). (item 9, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20to%20the%20south%20and%20the%20departure%20end%20of%20runway%2017%20(far%20left).-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - View to the southwest. The airplane veered off runway 17, crossed the grass median and taxiway, and slid into a chain link fence. (item 10, .PDF, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20View%20to%20the%20southwest.%20The%20airplane%20veered%20off%20runway%2017,%20crossed%20the%20grass%20median%20and%20taxiway,%20and%20slid%20into%20a%20chain%20link%20fence.-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Ground furrow at the lip of the taxiway. Note the green position light lens fragment in the dirt. (item 11, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Ground%20furrow%20at%20the%20lip%20of%20the%20taxiway.%20Note%20the%20green%20position%20light%20lens%20fragment%20in%20the%20dirt.-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Scrape marks on the taxiway and ground furrows leading to the airplane's left wing tip. (item 12, .PDF, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Scrape%20marks%20on%20the%20taxiway%20and%20ground%20furrows%20leading%20to%20the%20airplane%27s%20left%20wing%20tip.-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Tire scuff mark on the taxiway. (item 13, .PDF, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Tire%20scuff%20mark%20on%20the%20taxiway.-Master.PDF - Photo 7 - View to the northeast and the direction from which the airplane came. Note the VASI lights (background). (item 14, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20View%20to%20the%20northeast%20and%20the%20direction%20from%20which%20the%20airplane%20came.%20Note%20the%20VASI%20lights%20(background).-Master.PDF - Photo 8 - Looking aft from the inverted empennage toward the runway. VASI lights are in the background. Note taxiway scrapes and ground furrows. (item 15, .PDF, 392 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%20-%20Looking%20aft%20from%20the%20inverted%20empennage%20toward%20the%20runway.%20VASI%20lights%20are%20in%20the%20background.%20Note%20taxiway%20scrapes%20and%20ground%20furrows.-Master.PDF - Photo 9 - View of the right rear of the airplane as it rests against the chain link fence. Note iron beams stored on racks in background. (item 16, .PDF, 678 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%20-%20View%20of%20the%20right%20rear%20of%20the%20airplane%20as%20it%20rests%20against%20the%20chain%20link%20fence.%20Note%20iron%20beams%20stored%20on%20racks%20in%20background.-Master.PDF - Photo 10 - Right side of the inverted airplane. (item 17, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355044&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%20-%20Right%20side%20of%20the%20inverted%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 11 - Right front of the inverted airplane. (item 18, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011%20-%20Right%20front%20of%20the%20inverted%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 12 - View of the left rear of the airplane. Note separated left wing. (item 19, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2012%20-%20View%20of%20the%20left%20rear%20of%20the%20airplane.%20Note%20separated%20left%20wing.-Master.PDF - Photo 13 - The inverted right wing with the flap deployed. (item 20, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2013%20-%20The%20inverted%20right%20wing%20with%20the%20flap%20deployed.-Master.PDF - Photo 14 - The instrument panel. (item 21, .PDF, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2014%20-%20The%20instrument%20panel.-Master.PDF 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.