# NTSB ERA13CA284: Piper PA-28-140, N6881W, Ozark, AL, June 8, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2013, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Ozark, AL
- Coordinates: 31.431943, -85.620552 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4319&lon=-85.6206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA284
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87186/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87186
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA284

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted 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-28-140, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102802), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was returning to his home airport at the conclusion of a local practice flight. After entering the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to align the airplane with the runway while compensating for the crosswind. Just before touchdown, he elected to abort the landing, but after increasing engine power and retracting the flaps, the airplane began to drift off the left side of the runway and porpoise. The airplane eventually struck the ground and the right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot was returning to his home airport at the conclusion of a local practice flight. After entering the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to align the airplane with the runway while compensating for the crosswind. Just before touchdown, he elected to abort the landing, but after increasing engine power and retracting the flaps, the airplane began to drift off the left side of the runway and porpoise. The airplane eventually struck the ground and the right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6881W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6881W), registered now, S/N 28-21037, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-21037
- Airframe hours: 4689
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Lewis Mark A
- Registered owner: Lewis Mark A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2012, 693 hours before
- Departed: 71J, Ozark, AL
- Destination: 71J, Ozark, AL
- Airport: 71J, Blackwell Field, runway 12, 5,120 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, student; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 149 total, 23 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: HEY, 5 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 20130608011089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130608011089A), Jun 8, 2013: Piper PA-28-140, Ozark, AL, Substantial damage. On June 8, 2013, the pilot of N6881W was on a solo flight practicing steep turns, slow flight and landings. While practicing a short field landing the pilot…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87186. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395746&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statements (item 3, .PDF, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 5, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Picture of Airplane at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%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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