# NTSB CEN12LA189: Piper PA-28R-200, N56273, Arcola, TX, March 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 2012, 17:38 local (22:38 UTC) - Place: Arcola, TX - Coordinates: 29.506111, -95.476943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5061&lon=-95.4769&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83157 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83157/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83157 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain adequate crosswind correction during the landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot-receiving-instruction was attempting to land the airplane in a right quartering crosswind, which was gusting to 15 knots. The pilot reported that an application of full left rudder along with right aileron input was required to maintain alignment with the runway centerline. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust and drifted off the left side of the runway. He stated that his flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and attempted a go-around, but the airplane was unable to climb and subsequently landed in a ditch. The flight instructor reported that he assumed control of the airplane as it drifted off the runway, and the airplane had insufficient airspeed to establish a climb. He further noted that the pilot did not relinquish his left rudder input, and, because of this, in combination with the left-turning tendency experienced at takeoff power, he was unable to reestablish directional control before the airplane impacted a ditch. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 2012, at 1738 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, N56273, was substantially damaged while landing at Houston Southwest Airport (KAXH), Arcola, Texas. The flight instructor and pilot-receiving-instruction were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Dutch Wings, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 while on an instrument flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that departed KAXH at 1500. The pilot-receiving-instruction reported that an application of full left rudder along with right aileron input was required to maintain alignment with the runway centerline during final approach to runway 9 (5,003 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). He stated that as the airplane crossed over the touchdown zone he reduced engine power and flared for touchdown. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust and drifted off the left edge of the runway. He stated that his flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and attempted a go-around, but the airplane was unable to climb and subsequently landed in a ditch before sliding into a nearby hangar. The flight instructor reported that the airplane encountered a wind gust during the landing flare and began to drift left of the runway centerline. He noted that he assumed control of the airplane as it drifted off the left side of the runway. He stated that he advanced engine power for a go-around, but the airplane had insufficient airspeed to establish a climb. He further noted that the pilot-receiving-instruction did not relinquish his left rudder input, and in combination with the left-turning tendency experienced at takeoff power he was unable to reestablish directional control before the airplane impacted a ditch. The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. At 1735, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 130 degrees at 11 knots, gusting 15 knots; visibility 10 miles; temperature 23 degrees Celsius; dew point 20 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.98 inches of mercury. The sky condition was not reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56273](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56273-2012-05-01), registration cancelled 2012-05-01, S/N 28R-7335398, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7335398 - Airframe hours: 4487 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dutch Wings, LLC. - Registered owner: Dutch Wings, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 9, 2012 - Departed: KAXH, Houston, TX - Destination: KAXH, Houston, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KAXH, Houston Southwest Airport, runway 09, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 166 total, 7 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 411 total, 32 in this make and model, 355 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 99 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KAXH ## 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 20120318003579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120318003579A), Mar 18, 2012: Piper PA-28R-200, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. While attempting to land on runway 9 at Southwest Houston Airpark, the aircraft was blown off the runway by a gust of wind. The instructor took control of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83157. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (Jack D. Suh) (item 2, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(Jack%20D.%20Suh)-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Mark C. Hopp) (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Mark%20C.%20Hopp)-Redacted.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.