# NTSB CEN19TA112: Piper PA28, N8397W, Aberdeen, MS, March 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: March 29, 2019, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Aberdeen, MS - Coordinates: 33.877777, -88.487503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8778&lon=-88.4875&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99202/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99202 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a collision with a fence and impact with terrain during the attempted aborted landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and the passenger, who had recently purchased the airplane, were repositioning the airplane to the destination airport. According to the passenger, who was a student pilot, the pilot was acting as the pilot-in-command and was manipulating the flight controls. The passenger stated that the flight was uneventful until landing. During the landing flare, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left after touchdown. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the pilot applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing, the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch. The pilot had no memory of the accident flight. The postaccident airplane examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The flaps were found fully extended. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control during landing and that the airplane did not gain enough altitude during the go-around attempt to avoid the airport perimeter fence. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2019, at 1745 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N8397W, collided with an airport perimeter fence and a ditch after an aborted landing at Monroe County Airport, (M40), Aberdeen/Amory, Mississippi. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport (HAB), Hamilton, Alabama about 1715. The passenger, who held a student pilot certificate with about 40 hours of flight time, stated that he had recently purchased the airplane and planned to take lessons from a flight instructor at M40 on April 1, 2019. He and the private pilot intended to reposition the airplane to M40 where it was to be refueled for the upcoming flight instruction. He stated the private pilot was acting as the pilot in command and was manipulating the flight controls. He added that the flight was uneventful until the landing at M40. During the landing flare, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the private pilot applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing the airplane collided with the north-south airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch (figure 1). Figure 1 – Accident airplane in a ditch After the airplane impacted the ditch, the private pilot was unconscious for a few minutes until first responders arrived. The pilot was taken to a local hospital and treated for a concussion. He reported that he has no memory of the accident flight. A review of the airport surveillance video revealed the wind was from the south about 10 knots. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector completed a postaccident examination of the airplane on April 1, 2019. The flaps were found fully extended and the flight control cables were continuous. The nose landing gear was impact damaged; the corresponding rudder cable was off of the pulley and the cable's attachment point to the rudder pedal was broken. The examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector's photos revealed tire tracks in the grass where the airplane exited the runway. The tire tracks continued left across the taxiway and led to a knocked over fence post and metal fence laid on the ground toward the airplane. The airplane came to rest facing northwest toward the runway 18 threshold (figure 2). Figure 2 – Airplane in a ditch facing toward the runway 18 threshold ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8397W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8397W-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 28-2607, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-2607 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 5687.78 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2019 - Departed: HAB, Hamilton, AL - Destination: M40, Aberdeen, MS - Airport: M40, Monroe County, runway 18, 4,999 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot-rated passenger; age 36; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 40 total - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 819 total, 7.9 in this make and model, 664 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KM40 ## 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 20190329002149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190329002149A), Mar 29, 2019: Piper PA-28-180, Aberdeen, MS, Destroyed. On March 29, 2019,N8397W, PA-28-180 departed hamliton, al (khab) around 5:15 pm local time. Aircraft was enroute to monroe county airport (M40), with two… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99202. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airport Manager's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement - Pilot-in-Command (item 4, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20Pilot-in-Command-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 7 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Logbook (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Airport Video (item 7, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Video-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.