# NTSB CEN22LA165: Piper PA-28-235, N9119W, Calhan, CO, April 3, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 3, 2022, 17:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Calhan, CO - Coordinates: 38.94277, -104.5699 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9428&lon=-104.5699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104883/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104883 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA165 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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-28-235, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon arrival at the destination airport, the reported wind was from 220° at 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. He chose to fly a faster approach speed for landing on runway 15. He stated that, as the airplane touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the runway toward a hangar. Although he knew he impacted ground signs, he attempted a go-around, but was unable to avoid the hangar in front of him and impacted it with the left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain control of the airplane during the landing and attempted go-around. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2022, about 1755 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N9119W, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Calhan, Colorado. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had texted his girlfriend, who was waiting for him at the destination airport, to inquire about wind conditions. She sent him a photo of a rag in her hand that was not moving, so he assumed the wind was calm. Upon arrival at the airport, the reported wind was from 220° at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. As he approached runway 15, he chose to fly a faster approach speed to allow for a quicker go-around, if needed. He stated that as he touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the runway toward the hangar. Although he knew he impacted ground signs, he attempted a go-around, but was unable to avoid the hangar in front of him and impacted it with the left wing. The pilot later stated that he was unable to maintain control of the airplane during the landing and go-around attempt. Video surveillance of the accident showed the airplane cross the runway threshold and remain airborne until past the first taxiway and appeared to touchdown near the second taxiway before it bounced. It then exited the left side of the runway into a ditch, where the landing gear impacted a sign. The airplane then pitched up, consistent with an attempted go-around, and impacted a building. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing was separated from the airplane, consistent with impact forces, and the aileron cable exhibited a broomstraw, or frayed, appearance consistent with an overload separation. The fuselage and right wing were impact damaged, which precluded movement of the remaining flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9119W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9119W), registered now, S/N 28-10732 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10732 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KFLY, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 15, 6,001 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KFLY - METAR: KFLY 032355Z AUTO 22013G19KT 10SM OVC090 06/00 A3002 RMK AO2 T00610000 10101 20045 ## 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 20220403004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220403004929A), Apr 3, 2022: Piper PA-28-235, Peyton, CO, Destroyed. On April 03, 2022 N9119W was on approach to runway 15. Winds were reported at the time of landing to be around 220@10G20. Eyewitnesses and airport surveillance… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104883. 230 MB in all. - FAA examination memo (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14064871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Examination%20Memo-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14065814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport association president email memo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14068312&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Assoc%20President%20Email%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Accident video 1 (item 4, MP4, 171 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14064853&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=mlaa.kfly.peakteks.me_ch2_20220403165000_20220403170000-Rel.mp4 - Accident video 2 (item 5, MP4, 57.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14065181&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=mlaa.kfly.peakteks.me_ch3_20220403165000_20220403170000-Rel.mp4 - Photos (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 981 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14064157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14068285&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_signed_Redacted-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.