# NTSB ERA12CA573: Piper PA-28-180, N7290W, Berlin, NJ, September 21, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2012, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Berlin, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.773612, -74.941947 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7736&lon=-74.9419&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 December 19, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85116
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA573
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85116/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85116
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA573

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## 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)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [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-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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/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 was attempting to land at the destination airport after a cross-country flight at night. During landing, the airplane touched down, and when the pilot applied the brakes, the airplane began to skid. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway, and as the pilot attempted to regain directional control of the airplane, it veered back onto the runway off the right side. With about 75 feet of the 3,000-foot-long runway remaining, the pilot elected to turn the airplane left in an attempt to reverse its direction. Before the turn could be completed, the airplane struck the airport perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with either the flight controls or the brakes.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was attempting to land at the destination airport after a cross-country flight at night. During landing, the airplane touched down and when the pilot applied the brakes, the airplane began to skid. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway and as the pilot attempted to regain directional control of the airplane, it veered back onto the runway off the right side. With about 75 feet of the 3,000-foot long runway remaining, the pilot elected to turn the airplane left, in an attempt to reverse its direction. Before the turn could be completed, the airplane struck the airport perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane and a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with either the flight controls or the brakes.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7290W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7290W-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 28-1148, built 1963 (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: 28-1148
- Airframe hours: 7600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Salisbury Airplane Associates Inc
- Registered owner: Salisbury Airplane Associates Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2012, 13 hours before
- Departed: SBY, Salisbury, MD
- Destination: 19N, Berlin, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 19N, Camden County Airport, runway 05, 3,094 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 526 total, 24 in this make and model, 328 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: VAY, 11 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 20120921019719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120921019719A), Sep 21, 2012: Piper PA-28-180, Berlin, NJ, Substantial damage. On Friday, 9/21/12, at approx 7:45PM, a PA-28-180, N7290W, s/n 28-1148 landed rwy 5 at Camden County Airport (19N), and subsequently departed the left side of…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85116. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photograph 1: Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 801 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Accident%20Site%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Phtograph 2: Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 974 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Phtograph%202%3A%20%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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