# NTSB CEN21LA228: Piper PA28, N416RP, Pinecreek, MN, May 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 17, 2021, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Pinecreek, MN - Coordinates: 48.996079, -95.978827 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9961&lon=-95.9788&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 103117 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103117/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103117 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA228 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane in gusting crosswind conditions. ## 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-28-151, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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-28-151, 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was performing a touch-and-go landing with a gusting crosswind when during the landing flare, the wind gust increased, and the left wing raised up. The pilot added more crosswind control inputs, but overcorrected. The airplane yawed left and the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the side of the runway and impacted the terrain coming to rest in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 33 with wind from 270o at 9 knots with gusts to 19 knots. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he would have performed a go-around. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N416RP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N416RP), registered now, S/N 28-7415310, 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: 28-7415310 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 4881 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Miller Aircraft Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 15, 2021, 11.8 hours before - Departed: KCKN, Crookston, ND - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 48Y, Piney Pinecreek Border, runway 33, 3,297 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 167 total, 56.5 in this make and model, 20.1 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 12.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KROX, 13 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 20210517009139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210517009139A), May 17, 2021: Piper PA-28-151, Pinecreek, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot stated: we departed at kckn and headed to 48Y which is piney. We could not get weather at 48Y, so we got the weather from krox which is next to 48Y. And… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103117. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12378359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12378433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo-CEN21LA228-Rel.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.