# NTSB CEN23LA368: Piper PA-28-180, N7921W, Eagle River, WI, July 18, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 18, 2023, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Eagle River, WI - Coordinates: 45.936251, -89.26211 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9363&lon=-89.2621&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: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192895/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192895 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA368 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed on approach, which resulted in an extended touchdown, loss of control, and runway excursion. ## 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-28-180, 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) - [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) ## 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-28-180, 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 at the destination airport, the airplane floated down the runway, landed long, and did not slow as expected. He continued to apply the brakes as the airplane neared the end of the runway, then felt a gust of wind from the left. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The airplane nosed over in the grass and came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that to prevent the accident he could have landed closer to the threshold of the runway. The responding FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that the throttle was not all the way to idle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7921W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7921W-2024-09-14), registration cancelled 2024-09-14, S/N 28-1958, built 1964 (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: 28-1958 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 3046.36 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4AL 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2022 - Departed: KHYR, Hayward, WI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EGV, Eagle River Union, runway 4, 5,000 × 76 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 526 total, 301 in this make and model, 526 as pilot in command, 4.8 in the last 90 days, 4.8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KLNL, 13 nm away - METAR: KLNL 182015Z AUTO 34008KT 10SM SCT044 SCT065 21/09 A3001 RMK AO2 T02130093 ## 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 20230718011139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230718011139A), Jul 18, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Eagle River, WI, Substantial damage. On July 18, 2023 at 1510 CST, a Piper PA28-180 [privacy data omitted] landed at Eagle River, WI. On rollout after touchdown, the aircraft drifted to the left… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192895. 23.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16078164&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16076202&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16076581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Video file - accident sequence (item 4, MP4, 12.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16076974&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N7921W%20accident%20video-Rel.mp4 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.