- Date
- June 4, 2014, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Lebanon, OH
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3FNPiper PA 32-260
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20140604008269A
- Case key
- 89415
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported he encountered wind gusts and turbulence on final approach to the runway but stated the air became calm approximately 300 feet above the ground. During the flare, as the wheels touched down, the pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind that caused the airplane to veer left off the runway with the left main wheel traveling into the grass. The pilot initiated a go-around; however, the airplane did not gain altitude and the pilot "lost control of the airplane." The airplane veered right, crossed the runway and travelled up an embankment. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. A post-accident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board he noted that the accident might have been prevented if he focused on maintaining control of the airplane after touch down and not attempted a go-around, or made the decision to go-around sooner.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported he encountered wind gusts and turbulence on final approach to the runway but stated the air became calm approximately 300 feet above the ground. During the flare, as the wheels touched down, the pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind that caused the airplane to veer left off the runway with the left main wheel traveling into the grass. The pilot initiated a go-around; however, the airplane did not gain altitude and the pilot "lost control of the airplane." The airplane veered right, crossed the runway and travelled up an embankment. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. A post-accident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board he noted that the accident might have been prevented if he focused on maintaining control of the airplane after touch down and not attempted a go-around, or made the decision to go-around sooner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3FN
- Reported as
- Piper PA 32-260 (260)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7500007
- Built
- 1974
- Airframe hours
- 8,054
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-540 SERIES, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Flying Neutrons LLC
- Registered owner
- Flying Neutrons LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2013
- Departed
- I68 · Lebanon, OH
- Destination
- I68 · Lebanon, OH
- Airport
- I68 · Warren County/John Lane Field, runway 01, 4,502 × 65 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 8, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 254.5 total · 14.6 in this make and model · 211.6 as pilot in command · 1.2 in the last 90 days · 1.2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- KMGY, 8 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 589 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.