- Date
- November 25, 1998, 18:39 local (Nov 26, 1998, 00:39 UTC)
- Place
- Eden Prairie, MN
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2988RPiper PA-28-R200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981125041159A
- Case key
- 45377
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 pilot misjudged the flare and did not maintain directional control during touchdown. A factor was the VASI lights.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that she initiated the flare over the numbers of runway 27L. She reported the 'nose alignment drifted slightly left.' The left main gear touched down first and then the right main gear shortly after. The nose gear touched down 3 to 5 seconds after the right main gear. The airplane '...continued landing roll for less than 2 seconds after nose gear touched down before all steering was lost. Plane swerved hard left and initiated aircraft skidding with right side of aircraft turned slightly.' The right wingtip struck the VASI support stand, and the airplane spun 90 degrees clockwise before stopping. The pilot reported the VASI light fell on the right wing and collapsed the right main gear. The damage to the airplane included the right main gear was collapsed and punched through the wing spar.
Factual narrative
On November 25, 1998, at 1839 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-R200, N2988R, was substantially damaged when it swerved off the runway during a full stop landing and impacted the VASI lights. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Lansing, Michigan, en route to the Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that she initiated the flare over the numbers of runway 27L. She reported the "nose alignment drifted slightly left." She reported the left main gear touched down first and then the right main gear shortly after. The nose gear touched down 3 to 5 seconds after the right main gear. The pilot reported the airplane "...continued landing roll for less than 2 seconds after nose gear touched down before all steering was lost. Plane swerved hard left and initiated aircraft skidding with right side of aircraft turned slightly." The right wingtip struck the VASI support stand, and the airplane spun 90 degrees clockwise before stopping. The pilot reported the VASI light fell on the right wing and collapsed the right main gear.
The damage to the airplane included the right main gear was collapsed and punched through the wing spar.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2988R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-R200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-35671
- Airframe hours
- 6,455
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kathleen Spilman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 11, 1998 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- IGQ · Lansing, MI
- Destination
- FCM
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FCM · Flying Cloud Airport, runway 27, 3,909 × 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
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 242 total · 68 in this make and model · 189 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FCM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.