# NTSB DFW05CA011: Piper PA-28, N9284J, Abilene, TX, October 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 25, 2004, 22:00 local (Oct 26, 2004, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Abilene, TX - Coordinates: 32.411109, -99.681663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4111&lon=-99.6817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 60435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60435/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing factors were the wet runway surface and rain. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The 3000-hour commercial pilot reported that due to the heavy rain and instrument weather conditions that prevailed, he requested an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach. During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the airplane hit a patch of water on the wet runway, and as a result, the airplane veered to the left. Subsequently, the pilot applied right rudder to correct the situation, but the nose wheel did not become effective until it came into contact with grass off the left side of the runway. At this time, the pilot attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway, but the tire of the left main landing gear hit a runway light, and the front of the aircraft hit a taxiway sign. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2004, approximately 2200 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28 single-engine airplane, N9284J, owned and operated by Greenhill Management Corporation of Abilene, Texas, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during landing roll on runway 35R at the Abilene Regional Airport (ABI) near Abilene, Texas. The instrument-rated commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The cross-country flight originated from the Sherman Municipal Airport (SWI) near Sherman, Texas, approximately 2015, with ABI as its intended destination. In a written statement, the 3,000-hour commercial pilot reported that due to the heavy rain and instrument weather conditions that prevailed, he requested an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach for runway 35R at ABI. The first approach was unsuccessful, so the pilot received vectors for a second approach from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower at ABI. The second approach was successful, and the pilot landed on runway 35R. During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the airplane hit a patch of water, and as a result, the airplane veered to the left. Subsequently, the pilot applied right rudder to correct the situation, but the nose wheel did not become effective until it came into contact with grass off the left side of the runway. At this time, the pilot attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway, but the tire of the left main landing gear hit a runway light, and the front of the aircraft hit a taxiway sign, damaging the propeller. The pilot confirmed that his passenger was not injured and then contacted the tower to report the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the scene of the accident reported that the nose gear of the airplane had collapsed, resulting in damage to the engine mounts. Additionally, a corner of the firewall was damaged, and there was an impact mark on the leading edge of the left wing that impact with the taxiway sign. At 2200, the automated weather observing system at ABI reported variable wind at 3 knots, 6 statute miles visibility, light thunderstorms and rain, mist, broken clouds at 900 feet, overcast sky at 4,600 feet, temperature 19 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 17 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.96 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9284J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9284J-2018-03-08), registration cancelled 2018-03-08, S/N 28-3364, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28 - 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: 28-3364 - Airframe hours: 7533.27 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Greenhill Management Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2004, 85.51 hours before - Departed: SWI, Sherman, TX - Destination: ABI, Abilene, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ABI, Abilene Regional Airport, runway 35R, 7,198 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 30, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 312 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: ABI ## 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 20041025025069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041025025069A), Oct 25, 2004: Piper PA28180, Abilene, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 25, 2004, at approximately 2202 CDT local time, the pilot of N9284J, PA28-180 aircraft, lost control after landing, departed the runway to the… ## Other investigations on N9284J (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 NYC73AN109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN109), Jan 30, 1973: Piper PA-28 (N9284J), Farmingdale, NJ, 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.