# NTSB ERA10LA110: Piper PA-32R-301T, N8448Y, Auburn, AL, January 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 2010, 16:46 local (22:46 UTC) - Place: Auburn, AL - Coordinates: 32.60889, -85.433609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6089&lon=-85.4336&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75240 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75240/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75240 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control after landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing, the pilot applied the brakes to slow the airplane for a left turn off the runway. Instead, the airplane began a turn to the right, which could not be corrected with left brake application. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to a stop upright on a grass apron. A postaccident examination of both the left and right brakes by an aircraft mechanic revealed that the brakes turned freely with no dragging noted and that they appeared to be functional at the time of the examination. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 2010, at 1646 central standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N8448Y, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion after landing at the Auburn-Opelika Airport (AUO), Auburn, Alabama. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from the Thomaston-Upson County Airport (OPN), Thomaston, Georgia, at 1615. The pilot stated that after landing on runway 36 he applied the brakes to slow the airplane for a left turn off the runway. Instead, the airplane began a turn to the right, which could not be corrected with left brake application. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane stopped upright on the grass apron. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. However, the pilot had surrendered his certificate to the FAA one month prior to the accident. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on September 8, 2009, at which time the pilot reported 1,386 total hours of flight experience, 170 hours of which were in the same make and model of the accident airplane. He reported 20 total hours of flight experience in the 90 days preceding the accident. According to FAA and maintenance records the airplane had accrued 3,030 total hours. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on January 1, 2010, at 3,029 hours. At 1655, the weather reported at AUO, included clear skies and wind from 280 degrees at 4 knots. The visibility was 10 miles. The temperature was 3 degrees C and the dew point was -13 degrees C. Examination of the airplane at the accident site by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing spar, a twisted fuselage, and collapsed landing gear. A detailed examination of the brakes was completed by a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic. The mechanic reported that both the left and right brakes turned freely with no dragging noted and that the brake system appeared to be functional. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8448Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8448Y), registered now, S/N 32R-8129111, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-8129111 - Airframe hours: 3030 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Saadeh Mamdouh - Registered owner: Saadeh Mamdouh - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2010 - Departed: OPN, Thomaston, GA - Destination: AUO, Auburn, AL - Airport: AUO, Auburn-Opelika Airport, runway 36, 5,264 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,386 total, 170 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: AUO ## 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 20100106025689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100106025689A), Jan 6, 2010: Piper PA-32R-301T, Auburn, AL, Substantial damage. On January 6, 2010, pilot, departed from thomaston, ga (kopn), enroute to Auburn, Alabama, airport (kauo). Pilot stated that upon landing on runway (36),… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75240. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Memorandum) (item 1, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Memorandum)-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 623 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Interview (item 3, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Interview-Master.PDF - Mechanic Statement (item 4, .PDF, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic Interview (item 5, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Interview-Master.PDF - Photo - View of Skid Marks on Runway (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340808&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20View%20of%20Skid%20Marks%20on%20Runway-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.