# NTSB CEN22LA399: Piper PA-28-180, N3331R, Sullivan, IN, August 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 18, 2022, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Sullivan, IN
- Coordinates: 39.1147, -87.4483 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1147&lon=-87.4483&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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105815
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA399
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105815/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105815
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA399

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## 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-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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)

## 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-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the left, so she corrected with right rudder, and then left rudder once the airplane was back on the runway centerline. The airplane then veered back to the left and went off the runway into the grass. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted the ground alongside the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with respect to the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3331R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3331R), registered now, S/N 28-5661, built 1969 (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: 28-5661
- Year built: 1969
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: SIV, Sullivan County, runway 36, 4,359 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 78 total, 4 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KRSV, 11 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRSV 190055Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/19 A2997 RMK AO2 T02050191=

## 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 20220818014729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220818014729A), Aug 18, 2022: Piper PA-28-180, Sullivan, IN, Substantial damage. On August 18th, 2022, at 2300Z, aircraft [privacy data omitted] experienced a hard landing on runway 36 at the Sullivan County, Indiana airport (siv) resulting…

## Other investigations on N3331R (4)

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 GAA16CA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA491), Sep 15, 2016: Piper PA 28-180 (N3331R), Valparaiso, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN09CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA208), Dec 29, 2008: Piper PA-28-180 (N3331R), Valparaiso, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare during landing, resulting in a bounced landing.
- [NTSB CHI98LA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA329), Aug 22, 1998: Piper PA-28-180 (N3331R), Lapaz, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in landing on unsuitable terrain (wet, grass). Factors associated with the accident were the wet grass and the fence.
- [NTSB CHI89LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA045), Jan 14, 1989: Piper PA-28-180 (N3331R), Valparaiso, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INADVERTENT FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS AND RAPID ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105815. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14631200&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630520&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.

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