# NTSB CHI02CA184: Piper PA-34, N52WP, Lowell, MI, July 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 7, 2002, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Lowell, MI - Coordinates: 42.953887, -85.343887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9539&lon=-85.3439&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA -- Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55199 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02CA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55199/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55199 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA184 ## Probable cause The probable cause of this accident was a failure to properly compensate for the current wind conditions. Excessive use of brakes was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The aircraft blew a tire on rollout after landing rollout. The pilot stated "I landed on the runway and immediately applied full braking power after getting the right wheel on the grass in hopes of getting better drag, without too much pressure on the tire, instead of asphalt. Approximately 35 feet from the end of the runway the left tire blew. The airplane had slowed to 20 mph at this time and until the tire blew I felt that the situation was under control. The airplane went 15 feet off the end of the runway before stopping." The pilot said under Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation "that better evaluation of wind conditions" may have prevented the accident. "They were not what was on ATIS at GRR." ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2002, at 1:45 edt, a Piper PA-34, N52WP, blew a tire on rollout after landing at Lowell, Michigan. The FAR Part 91 flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the only occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Frankfort, Michigan at 1:30. The pilot stated "I landed on the runway and immediately applied full braking power after getting the right wheel on the grass in hopes of getting better drag, with out too much pressure on the tire, instead of asphalt. Approximately 35 feet from the end of the runway the left tire blew. The airplane had slowed to 20 mph at this time and until the tire blew I felt that the situation was under control. The airplane went 15 feet off the end of the runway before stopping." The pilot said under Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation "that better evaluation of wind conditions" may have prevented the accident. "They were not what was on ATIS at GRR." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52WP), registered now, S/N 34-7670182, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 76-70182 - Airframe hours: 3250 - Engines: Continental 360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: STT Inc. - Registered owner: David Rusch - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2001, 180 hours before - Departed: 3D4, FRANKFORT, MI - Destination: LOWELL, MI - Airport: 24C, Lowell City, runway 12 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 624 total, 440 in this make and model, 435 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20020707014269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020707014269A), Jul 7, 2002: Piper PA34200T, Lowell, MI, No damage. (-23) During the landing flare on the 2394' runway the pilot realized that he was landing with a tail wind. Attempting to slow the aircraft the pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55199. 425 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Maintenance Workorder (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Workorder-Master.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.