# NTSB CEN20CA089: Piper PA28, N6520W, Sparta, MI, February 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 16, 2020, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Sparta, MI - Coordinates: 43.127498, -85.679168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1275&lon=-85.6792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA089 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing on the snow/slush-covered portion of the runway and the flight instructor's improper decision to allow the student to make his first solo flight from a snow/slush-covered runway. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-28-140, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 The student pilot reported that, before the accident flight, he and his flight instructor had conducted three uneventful landings on the snow-covered runway before the instructor exited the airplane to allow him to make his first solo flight. During the first solo landing, the airplane slid "a bit," and the airplane came to a stop about 90° from the desired runway heading. The student taxied the airplane back to the ramp where he and the instructor discussed the landing, and both agreed that the student could continue with his second solo flight. During the second solo landing, the airplane slid left upon touchdown, and the student applied right rudder but was unable to regain directional control. Subsequently, the airplane slid into a snowbank beside the runway. The outboard 3 ft of the left wing sustained substantial damage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction with the flight controls, nosewheel steering, or wheel brakes. Most of the runway was covered with between about 1 and 2 inches of snow/slush at the time of the accident. It is likely that the student landed the airplane on a snow/slush-covered portion of the runway, which resulted in the loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that before the accident flight he and his flight instructor had made 3 uneventful landings on the snow-covered runway before his flight instructor exited the airplane to allow him to make his first solo flight. The student pilot stated that his first solo landing resulted in "a bit of sliding" and that the airplane had come to a stop about 90° to the desired runway heading. The student pilot taxied the airplane back to the ramp where he and his instructor discussed the landing, and both agreed to continue with the solo flight. The student pilot reported that during his second solo landing the airplane slid to the left upon touchdown, and that he was unable to regain directional control with right rudder before the airplane slid into a snowbank beside the runway. The outboard 3 ft of the left wing was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction with the flight controls, nosewheel steering, or wheel brakes. Most of the runway was covered with 1-2 inches of snow/slush at the time of the accident. It is likely that the student pilot landed the airplane on a snow/slush covered portion of the runway when he lost directional control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6520W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6520W), registered now, S/N 28-20599, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (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: 28-20599 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 5155.05 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: P T Arts LLC - Registered owner: P T Arts LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2020 - Departed: 8D4, Sparta, MI - Destination: 8D4, Sparta, MI - Airport: 8D4, Sparta Airport, runway 25, 4,032 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 15.5 total, 13.3 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 8.3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 16 nm away ## 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 20200216000779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200216000779A), Feb 16, 2020: Piper PA-28-140, Sparta, MI, Substantial damage. On February 16, 2020 at 1150 local time, a Piper PA28-140 aircraft, N6520W, registered to a corporation and operated by a student pilot, received substantial… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100956. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 812 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Michael Matthews) (item 2, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Michael%20Matthews)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Michael Matthews) (item 3, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Michael%20Matthews)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Photo (item 5, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.