# NTSB ERA11CA259: Piper PA-28-180, N57WV, Lake Wales, FL, April 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 23, 2011, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Lake Wales, FL - Coordinates: 27.952222, -81.60083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9522&lon=-81.6008&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78946 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78946/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78946 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA259 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the landing roll the airplane encountered a gust of wind and veered off the left side of the turf runway. After the pilot regained control, he attempted to avoid a ditch by applying right rudder. He was unsuccessful in correcting the airplane's alignment and the left main landing gear impacted the ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during the landing roll, a gust of wind impacted the airplane, which turned to the left and departed the left side of the 50-feet-wide, turf runway. After the pilot regained control, he attempted to avoid a ditch by imputing right rudder. The left main landing gear impacted the ditch resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57WV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57WV-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 28-4648, built 1968 (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 I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4648 - Airframe hours: 5082 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lycett James T - Registered owner: Lycett James T - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2010 - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: X25, Lake Wales, FL - Airport: X25, Chalet Suzanne Air Strip, runway 18, 2,313 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 705 total, 695 in this make and model, 606 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BOW, 9 nm away ## 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 20110423008709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110423008709A), Apr 23, 2011: Piper PA-28-180, Lake Wales, FL, Substantial damage. On Saturday 23 apr 2011, N57WV, a 1968 PA-28-180 "cherokee d", piloted by james t. lycett, experienced loss of control upon landing rollout on rw 18 at Chalet… ## Other investigations on N57WV (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 ERA16FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA032), Nov 5, 2015: Piper PA 28-180 (N57WV), Cornelia, GA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to initiate the flight into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78946. 200 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348306&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.