CHI95LA039

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R-200 · Rochelle, IL · November 11, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 11, 1994, 01:45 local (07:45 UTC)
Place
Rochelle, IL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N32196Piper PA-28R-200
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report February 24, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19941111040659A
Case key
9799

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

On this page

Probable cause

the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's improper use of the brakes.

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
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandFactor
Gear collapsedLanding - roll
Landing gear - overload

Analysis

The student pilot reported he was practicing touch and go landings. He stated that after the airplane landed, it began to drift to the left. In an attempt to correct the drifting, the pilot stated he applied the right brake, but did not notice a correction. He then applied full force to the right brake and a slight force to the left. The airplane skidded off the side of the runway and onto an adjacent field. A postaccident examination by an FAA inspector, revealed the brakes to be in normal condition and operating properly.

Factual narrative

On November 11, 1994, at 0145 central standard time, a Piper PA- 28R-200, N32196, was substantially damaged when it ran off the side of the runway after landing at Rochelle Municipal Airport, Rochelle, Illinois. The student pilot, who had been practicing touch and go landings, was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight originated from Aurora, Illinois, at 0100 without flight plan in visual meteorological conditions.

The student pilot reported that after the airplane touched down on runway 25 (4226' x 75'), it began to drift to the left. In an attempt to correct the drifting, the pilot stated he applied the right brake. He stated, "After right brake application, I noticed no correction, at which time the left edge of runway 25 was quickly approaching. I then applied full force right brake, with left brake (slight), at which time the airplane skidded in the damp grass and then came to an abrupt stop in a freshly plowed muddy farm field approx. 30 yards south of the runway." Both the nose gear and the right landing gear collapsed before the airplane came to rest.

No preimpact mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot. An FAA Airworthiness Inspector, who represented the NTSB on scene, performed a postaccident examination. He stated the brakes appeared normal and operated properly. No abnormalities were found during the inspection.

Aircraft

Registration
N32196
Reported as
Piper PA-28R-200
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-7535034
Airframe hours
7,727
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Thomas And Susan Adler
Registered owner
Thomas And Susan Adler
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 29, 1994 · 31 hours before
Departed
ARR · Aurora, IL
Airport
12C · Rochelle Municipal, runway 25, 4,226 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
31
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
79 total · 29 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
210° at 8 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

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