# NTSB CHI04LA034: Piper PA-32-300, N28693, Superior, WI, November 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 21, 2003, 11:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Superior, WI - Coordinates: 46.693889, -92.094718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6939&lon=-92.0947&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58388 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58388/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the ditch that the airplane contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The airplane collided with a ditch following a loss of directional control while landing. The pilot reported the airplane touched down at an airspeed of 80 to 85 knots. He reported that after a brief landing roll, he tapped the brakes and the airplane pulled to the left toward the grass. The pilot reported he pulled back on the control yoke and applied light brakes as the airplane continued toward the grass. Upon seeing a drainage ditch that was perpendicular to the runway, the pilot applied power and pulled back in an attempt to clear the ditch. The airplane contacted the ditch at which time the landing gear collapsed. Inspection of the airplane's brakes following the accident failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction. Skid marks on the runway matched the track of the right main and nose gears. No tracks from the left main gear were visible until a point where the airplane had traveled into the grass. The pilot made the following recommendation as to how the accident could have been avoided. "Reduce landing touchdown speed, and after landing allow aircraft to runout and burn off speed naturally before applying brakes." ## Factual narrative On November 21, 2003, at 1125 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N28693, collided with a ditch following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 31(4,000 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt), at the Bong Airport (SUW), Superior, Wisconsin. The pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Crystal Airport, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 1020. The pilot reported he "cut power" before landing and the airplane touched down at an airspeed of 80 to 85 knots. He reported that after a brief landing roll, he tapped the brakes and the airplane pulled to the left toward the grass. The pilot reported he pulled back on the control yoke and applied light brakes as the airplane continued toward the grass. Upon seeing a drainage ditch that was perpendicular to the runway, the pilot applied power and pulled back in an attempt to clear the ditch. The airplane contacted the ditch at which time the landing gear collapsed. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Minneapolis, Minnesota, Flight Standards District Office inspected the airplane's brakes following the accident and was unable to detect any mechanical failure/malfunction. The inspector reported that there were skid marks on the runway which matched the track of the right main and nose gears. He stated that there were no tracks from the left main gear until the airplane had traveled into the grass. Winds reported at SUW, 10 minutes prior to the accident, were from 270 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot made the following recommendation as to how the accident could have been avoided. "Reduce landing touchdown speed, and after landing allow aircraft to runout and burn off speed naturally before applying brakes." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28693](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28693), registered now, S/N 32-7940121, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7940121 - Airframe hours: 2670 - Engines: Lycoming IOP-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Havrilak, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2003, 16 hours before - Departed: MIC, Minneapolis, MN - Destination: SUW, Superior, WI - Airport: SUW, Bong Airport, runway 31, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 124 total, 17 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: SUW ## 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 20031121033529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031121033529A), Nov 21, 2003: Piper PA32300, Superior, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 21, 2003, at 1130 CST, a Piper PA-32-300 owned and operated by robert havrilak departed the runway during a landing at the Superior WI… 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.