# NTSB CHI05CA105: Piper PA-28-161, N2833F, South Bend, IN, April 25, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 25, 2005, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: South Bend, IN
- Coordinates: 41.70861, -86.317222
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7086&lon=-86.3172&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61363/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA105

## Probable cause

The student pilot failed to compensate for the crosswind condition and failed to maintain directional control.  Factors included the crosswind and the windsock.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - wind sock/indicator (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered off the left side of runway 27 and hit the wind sock with its left wing.  The solo student pilot, who was on an instructional cross-country flight, was not injured.  The student pilot reported that he "taxied onto the runway for departure and the airplane began to pull to the left.  I then added more correction but couldn't prevent the aircraft from going off the runway.  The left wing hit the wind sock and then the plane came to a rest."  The student pilot had a total of 58 hours of flight time with 9.9 hours as pilot in command.  The observed surface winds at 1554 were 240 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

## Factual narrative

On April 25, 2005, at 1615 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2833F, operated by the Lansing Community College, sustained substantial damage when it veered off the left side of runway 27L (8,412 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at the South Bend Regional Airport (SBN), South Bend, Indiana, and hit the wind sock with its left wing.  The solo student pilot was not injured.  The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional cross-country flight departed Muskegon, Michigan, at an unknown time.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed.

The student pilot reported that he "taxied onto the runway for departure and the airplane began to pull to the left.  I then added more correction but couldn't prevent the aircraft from going off the runway.  The left wing hit the wind sock and then the plane came to a rest."

The student pilot had a total of 58 hours of flight time with 9.9 hours as pilot in command.

The observed surface winds at SBN at 1554 were 240 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2833F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2833F), registered now, S/N 28-7916452, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7916452
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lansing Community College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MKG, Muskegon, MI
- Destination: SBN, South Bend, IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SBN, South Bend Regional, runway 27L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 2; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## 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 20050425006889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050425006889A), Apr 25, 2005: Piper PA28161, South Bend, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot lost control of aircraft on departure roll, runway 27L, sbn. Aircraft rolled into grass and struck wind sock with left wingtip. Winds…

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.

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