# NTSB CEN24LA059: Piper PA28, N8538N, Lubbock, TX, December 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 10, 2023, 11:13 local (17:13 UTC) - Place: Lubbock, TX · LBB. - Coordinates: 33.662302, -101.80977 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6623&lon=-101.8098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193510 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193510/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193510 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA059 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing that resulted in a runway excursion, an impact with a runway sign, and a nose gear collapse. ## 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-28-235, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102810), [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-28-235, 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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-flare/touchdown: 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-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the approach the airplane was flying “3-5 mph faster than normal” to account for the gusting wind condition. Just prior to the nosewheel touching down, the pilot felt a “strong gust that pulled the nose of the aircraft into the wind.” As the nosewheel touched down, the pilot applied right rudder, and the airplane departed the runway. The airplane impacted a runway sign, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright with a nose down attitude. The two occupants were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8538N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8538N-2025-10-31), registration cancelled 2025-10-31, S/N 28-11337, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-11337 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 1887.68 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-540 Series 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2023 - Departed: BGD, Borger, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LBB, Lubbock Preston Smith Intl, runway 08/26, 8,003 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 154 total, 48 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: KLBB, 1 nm away - METAR: KLBB 101653Z 23018KT 10SM SCT250 07/M07 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP278 T00721067 ## 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 20231210022759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231210022759A), Dec 10, 2023: Piper PA-28-235, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. • On December 10, 2023 at 11:11 CST (17:11Z), a Piper PA-28-235 aircraft bearing registration number N8538N, registered to the pilot in command ,went off the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193510. 3.4 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=16575035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16583334&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.