# NTSB CEN22LA388: Piper PA-28, N5341W, Lucedale, MS, August 15, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2022, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Lucedale, MS
- Coordinates: 30.802222, -88.5475 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8022&lon=-88.5475&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA, Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105760
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA388
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105760/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105760
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA388

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing on the wet turf runway with a higher speed.

## 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, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102801), [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, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While landing on a wet turf runway, the pilot used 30° of flaps and an approach speed of about 75 knots so he could land softly. A witness observed that the airplane’s speed during rollout was faster than normal. During the landing roll the airplane started to slide to the left. The pilot attempted to keep the airplane in the center of the runway. The airplane then turned violently to the left, departed the runway, and impacted a peanut field. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. A postaccident examination revealed the nosewheel tire pressure was low and the shimmy dampener had little resistance in either direction. No anomalies were observed with the main landing gear brake assemblies or tires that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot’s loss of directional control on the wet turf runway was likely due to the higher-than-normal touchdown and rollout speeds on a wet turf runway. It is possible that the low tire pressure and shimmy dampener may have contributed to the pilot’s inability to regain control of the airplane; however, investigators were not able to establish the extent that this would have contributed to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On August 15, 2022, about 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28, N5341W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Sky Landings Airport (22MS), Lucedale, Mississippi. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had 30° of flaps and an approach speed of about 75 knots so he could land softly on the turf runway. After the nose came down during the landing roll the airplane started to slide to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder and handbrake. The pilot thought his brakes had locked and attempted to keep the airplane in the center of the runway. The airplane then turned violently to the left, departed the runway, and impacted a peanut field. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported the accident landing was his first with the airplane on a turf runway. A witness reported that the runway was wet from morning dew and observed that the airplane’s speed during rollout was faster than normal. He then observed the airplane enter a skid, veer left, and exit the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel tire pressure was too low to register on a tire pressure gauge. There was no visible damage to the tire. The shimmy dampener had little resistance in either direction. No other anomalies were observed with the main landing gear brake assemblies or tires that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5341W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5341W-2023-04-11), registration cancelled 2023-04-11, S/N 28-399, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-399
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 4293
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 2022, 4 hours before
- Departed: KIYA, Abbeville, LA
- Destination: 22MS, Lucedale, MS
- Airport: 22MS, Sky Landings Airport, runway 31, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B, Heads up display, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 233 total, 59 in this make and model, 221 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KMOB, 17 nm away
- METAR: KMOB 151556Z 30005KT 10SM SCT039 SCT110 BKN200 32/24 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP151 T03170239

## 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 20220815014619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220815014619A), Aug 15, 2022: Piper PA-28, Lucedale, MS, Substantial damage. PIC statement: On August 15th my mission was to fly from abbeville Louisiana(kiya) to 22MS private strip to pick up a friend who was dropping off his aircraft…

## Other investigations on N5341W (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 FTW86LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86LA013), Oct 11, 1985: Piper PA-28 (N5341W), Houston, TX, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105760. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15502717&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness information (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15503574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Information_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Aircraft examination by FAA inspector - correspondence (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Correspondence-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.

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