CHI04LA035

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-180 · Bloomfield, IA · November 30, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 30, 2003, 11:43 local (17:43 UTC)
Place
Bloomfield, IA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7467WPiper PA-28-180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 24, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA, Des Moines, IA FSDO
FAA report
20031130030319A
Case key
58393

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind and the grass which the airplane contacted.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - roll
Terrain condition - grassFactor

Analysis

The airplane nosed over following a loss of directional control during a landing roll. The landing was being made on runway 36 (3,401 feet by 50 feet, dry concrete). Local winds at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 10 - 12 knots. The pilot stated he touched down approximately 1,300 feet down the runway. He reported that shortly after touchdown he "lost control of the aircraft in the crosswind." The airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane traveled another 300 feet prior to nosing over in the grass about 20 feet off the side of the runway.

Factual narrative

On November 30, 2003, at 1143 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7467W, operated by Heartland Aviation, nosed over following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 36 (3,401 feet by 50 feet, dry concrete) at the Bloomfield Municipal Airport (4K6), Bloomfield, Iowa. The private rated pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight departed from 4K6, at 1135.

The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot stated that on his first landing he touched down approximately 1,300 feet down the runway. He reported that shortly after touchdown he "lost control of the aircraft in the crosswind." The airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane traveled another 300 feet prior to nosing over in the grass about 20 feet off the side of the runway.

The pilot reported the local winds at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 10 - 12 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N7467W
Reported as
Piper PA-28-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-1370
Airframe hours
4,459
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Heartland Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · October 23, 2003 · 25 hours before
Departed
4K6 · Bloomfield, IA
Destination
4K6 · Bloomfield, IA
Airport
4K6 · Bloomfield Municipal, runway 36, 3,401 × 50 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Unknown
Seat
Left
Flight hours
166 total · 19 in this make and model · 136 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
54 °F, dew point 27 °F
Altimeter
29.90 inHg
Observed at
OTM, 25 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N7467W · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.