# NTSB CHI95LA216: Piper PA-28-181, N9144T, Chesterfield, MO, July 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1995, 09:21 local (14:21 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.650947, -90.529136 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6509&lon=-90.5291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9938/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the gusty crosswind conditions. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED BACK INTO THE AIR. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN LANDED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE CROSSWIND. THE PILOT STATED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR GOT CAUGHT ON THE CORNER OF THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR AND CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO EXIT ONTO THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS SHEARED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE LEFT WING, ENGINE FIRE WALL, AND ENGINE MOUNTS. A SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN SIX MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 24 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1995, at 0921 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 181, N9144T, sustained substantial damage while landing at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. The solo student pilot reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The student pilot returned to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport after a solo cross country practice flight. Upon touchdown on runway 26R (3800' x 75'), the airplane ballooned back into the air. The pilot stated that the airplane then got caught in a crosswind causing it to touchdown on the north side of the runway. He stated the right main landing gear then got caught on the corner of the runway and taxiway intersection, causing damage to the gear. The airplane exited the side of the runway onto the grass adjacent to the runway. The left main landing gear was sheared from the airplane and damage was sustained by the left wing, engine fire wall, and engine mounts. A surface weather observation taken six minutes after the accident reported the winds from 210 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 24 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9144T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9144T), registered now, S/N 28-8690029, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8690029 - Airframe hours: 2770 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bill & Debbie Himmelsbach - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1994, 105 hours before - Departed: SUS, ST. LOUIS, MO - Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St. Louis, runway 26R, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 91 total, 91 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SUS ## 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 19950705049609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950705049609A), Jul 5, 1995: Piper PA28181, Chesterfield, MO, Substantial damage. (-16) Airman, a student pilot, executed landing approach at spirit of st. louis airport (sus); drifted north of runway 26R and settled onto unpaved area.… ## Other investigations on N9144T (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 LAX87LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA311), Aug 23, 1987: Piper PA-28-181 (N9144T), Long Beach, 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.