# NTSB DEN03LA046: Piper PA-28-180, N8205W, Richfield, UT, March 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2003, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Richfield, UT - Coordinates: 38.750129, -112.100135 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7501&lon=-112.1001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56605/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA046 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing roll resulting in a ground loop/swerve and subsequent nose over. A contributing factor was the gusty wind 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was on a return flight and stated that he received an AWOS weather update. He entered the left downwind and attempted to land on 19. As he began to flare, he encountered a gust of wind from the west. He added power for a go-around and then set up for a landing on runway 01. The touchdown on runway 01 was "normal," but during the landing roll, a gust of wind caught the left wing. He said it "felt like the nose landing gear was skidding across the runway." He attempted to regain control and correct this by adding "full rudder." He thought of applying full power for a go-around, but he felt he was going too slow. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway. After leaving the runway, the nose landing gear "seemed to collapse." The right wing tip struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that the winds were approximately 270 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 28 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2003, at approximately 1405 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8205W, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing roll at Richfield Municipal Airport (RIF), Richfield, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this cross-country flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Montrose, Colorado, at approximately 1100. According to the pilot's statement, while on the return flight, he received updated weather from an automatic weather observing/reporting system (AWOS). He entered the left downwind for runway 19 at Richfield, and attempted to land. As he began to flare, he encountered a gust of wind from the west. He added power for a go-around and then set up for a landing on runway 01. The touchdown on runway 01 was "normal," but during the landing roll, a gust of wind caught the left wing. He said it "felt like the nose landing gear was skidding across the runway." He attempted to regain control and correct this by adding "full rudder." He thought of applying full power for a go-around, but he felt he was going too slow. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway. After leaving the runway, the nose landing gear "seemed to collapse." The right wing tip struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained damage to the right wing, vertical stabilizer and rudder. During a telephone interview on March 7, 2003, the pilot stated that the winds were approximately 270 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 28 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8205W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8205W), registered now, S/N 28-2336, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-2336 - Airframe hours: 1998.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-360A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark S. Blonquist - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2002, 28.8 hours before - Departed: MTJ, Montrose, CO - Destination: RIF, Richfield, UT - Airport: RIF, Richfield Municipal Airport, runway 01, 6,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 325 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 12 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20030307002269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030307002269A), Mar 7, 2003: Piper PA28180, Richfield, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Will issue amendment for this block. (-23 amendment) after executing one missed approach because of crosswind conditions, pilot lost control of aircraft… 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.