# NTSB CEN22LA075: Piper PA-28-180, N7157W, Rockwall, TX, December 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 9, 2021, 13:28 local (19:28 UTC) - Place: Rockwall, TX - Coordinates: 32.925047, -96.434258 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9250&lon=-96.4343&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 104409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104409/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104409 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to go-around during the unstable visual approach, which resulted in a bounced touchdown near the end of the runway and the subsequent runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md) - [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) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was flying a visual approach with a steep glidepath to avoid power lines on final approach and a higher-than-normal approach speed due to high winds. The airplane touched down toward the departure end of the runway and bounced once. The pilot did not perform a go-around and continued the landing attempt. The airplane touched down again, departed the runway, and impacted a barbed wire fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have diverted to another airport and rented a vehicle to drive to the destination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7157W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7157W-2022-10-25), registration cancelled 2022-10-25, S/N 28-965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - 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: 28-965 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 4328 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mmm Friemel Inc - Registered owner: Mmm Friemel Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 11TX, Sherman, TX - Destination: F46, Rockwall, TX - Airport: F46, Ralph M Hall/Rockwall Muni, runway 17/35, 3,373 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KF46, 0.6 nm away - METAR: KF46 092035Z AUTO 23011G15KT 10SM CLR 25/15 A2979 RMK AO2 T02530150 ## 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 20211209020929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211209020929A), Dec 9, 2021: Piper PA-28-180, Rockwall, TX, Substantial damage. On 9 dec 2021 at approximately 1328L CST, pilot in command made an approach to runway 17 at Rockwall Municipal Airport (F46). The aircraft touched down for the… ## Other investigations on N7157W (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA66F0433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66F0433), Feb 20, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N7157W), Columbia, SC, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104409. 1.7 MB in all. - Record of correspondence with pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13375014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photos of accident airplane (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13375004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.