# NTSB CEN20CA163: Piper PA28, N41498, Longmont, CO, April 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2020, 18:00 local (Apr 28, 2020, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.163612, -105.162223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1636&lon=-105.1622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA163 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during a go around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-28-151, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot checked the weather at his planned destination airport during the return leg of a cross-county flight. The wind speed was higher than his personal minimums, so he diverted to a nearby airport with reported calm wind. He entered the pattern for runway 11 and noticed that the wind was from the south. Prior to touchdown, the wind decreased and the airplane's nose tracked to the left. The pilot added power for a go-around but did not compensate with enough right rudder which aggravated the airplane's misalignment. The airplane touched down and exited the side of the runway. The airplane's left wing struck a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that could have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot checked the weather at his planned destination airport during the return leg of a cross-county flight. The wind speed was higher than his personal minimums, so he diverted to a nearby airport with reported calm wind. He entered the pattern for runway 11 and noticed that the wind was from the south. Prior to touchdown, the wind decreased and the airplane's nose tracked to the left. The pilot added power for a go-around but did not compensate with enough right rudder which aggravated the airplane's misalignment. The airplane touched down and exited the side of the runway. The airplane's left wing struck a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that could have contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41498](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41498), registered now, S/N 28-7415237, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (151) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7415237 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 4624.81 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 27, 2020, 96.31 hours before - Departed: FLY, Colorado Springs, CO - Destination: LMO, Longmont, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LMO, Vance Brand, runway 11, 4,799 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 95 total, 92 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KLMO ## 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 20200427010359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200427010359A), Apr 27, 2020: Piper PA-28-151, Longmont, CO, Substantial damage. The pilot was returning to rocky mountain metropolitan airport (kbjc) in broomfield, CO; from performing a time building flight. While in the pattern at kbjc… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101219. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484433&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot Email, No Mechanical Malfunctions (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Email,%20No%20Mechanical%20Malfunctions-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.