# NTSB ERA10CA303: Piper PA-28-181, N47661, Block Island, RI, June 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2010, 12:28 local (16:28 UTC) - Place: Block Island, RI - Coordinates: 41.168056, -71.577774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1681&lon=-71.5778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76259 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76259/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76259 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA303 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he made a poor approach, but still elected to continue with the landing. He landed long at a higher-than-normal airspeed and the airplane bounced upon touchdown. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and that the braking system performed as designed. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he “may have been a bit overconfident in salvaging a poor approach” and landed long at a higher than normal airspeed. The airplane bounced, departed the left side of the runway, and struck a fence which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A detailed examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomaly, and that the braking system performed as designed when actuated by the foot pedals or the hand lever. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47661](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47661), registered now, S/N 28-7890112, built 1977 (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: 28-7890112 - Airframe hours: 2859 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2009 - Departed: HVN, New Haven, CT - Destination: BID, Block Island, RI - Airport: BID, Block Island State Airport, runway 10, 2,502 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 31, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 833 total, 458 in this make and model, 833 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: BID ## 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 20100602036649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100602036649A), Jun 2, 2010: Piper PA-28-181, Block Island, RI, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he approached runway 10 at possibly a higher than normal speed and landed long, aproximately 1/2 way down the runway. This resulted in a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76259. 951 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Record of Conversation Between Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and Pilot. (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20Between%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20and%20Pilot.-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's Notes on the Accident. (item 3, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%27s%20Notes%20on%20the%20Accident.-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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.