# NTSB CHI02LA011: Piper PA-34-200T, N29461, Ann Arbor, MI, October 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2001, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Ann Arbor, MI - Coordinates: 42.219768, -83.730018 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2198&lon=-83.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Detroit, Michigan-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53660/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA011 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Factors were the gusty crosswind and the terrain drop-off. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane ran off of the side of the runway during landing. In a written report, the pilot said that he encountered a crosswind while landing. He said that the, "...plane was blown off runway to [the] south of [runway 24]. Plane continued off runway [and] went over a 1-2 foot drop off at site of crossing sod runway." The weather reporting station located at the accident airport recorded the wind at 1353 edt as 330 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 23 knots. No mechanical anomalies were found with respect to the airplane that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. No mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2001, at 1350 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-34-200T, N29461, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 24 (3,500 feet by 75 feet, concrete), at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The airplane ran off of the south side of the runway during the landing. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois, at 1200 edt. In a written report, the pilot said that he encountered a crosswind while landing. He said that the, "...plane was blown off runway to [the] south of [runway 24]. Plane continued off runway [and] went over a 1-2 foot drop off at site of crossing sod runway." The weather reporting station located at the accident airport recorded the wind at 1353 edt as 330 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 23 knots. No mechanical anomalies were found with respect to the airplane that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. No mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29461](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29461-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 34-7970254, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T - 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: 34-7970254 - Airframe hours: 3933 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-KB6B 220 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360-KB6B 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Golf Romeo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 2001, 91 hours before - Departed: MDW, CHICAGO, IL - Destination: ARB, Ann Arbor, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ARB, Ann Arbor Muni, runway 24, 3,500 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,028 total, 435 in this make and model, 947 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 15 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: ARB ## 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 20011017033019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011017033019A), Oct 17, 2001: Piper PA34200T, Ann Arbor, MI, No damage. (-23) During landing rwy 24, aircraft departed runway onto the grass approximately 1000' from the approach end in a straight line and went over a 1-2 foot… ## Other investigations on N29461 (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 LAX85LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA312), Jul 6, 1985: Piper PA-34-200T (N29461), Saline Valley, CA, substantial damage 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.