# NTSB ERA14CA284: Piper PA-28-201T, N2890Z, Defuniak Springs, FL, June 6, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 6, 2014, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Defuniak Springs, FL
- Coordinates: 30.725276, -86.152221
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7253&lon=-86.1522&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89404
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA284
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89404/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89404
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA284

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control in gusty wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.

## 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-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102819), [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-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102819), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102819), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102819), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7102819), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102819), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102819), [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-28-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102819), [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-28-201T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102819), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was flying the airplane to a nearby airport for a maintenance inspection. On the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern the pilot received current wind information from a pilot on the ground. He then configured the airplane to land and flew a "normal approach." During landing, the main landing gear touched down just past the displaced threshold while the airplane was travelling at 77 knots. The airplane "bounced" and, while in the air, the pilot held the airplane at a "normal landing attitude." The airplane was then "hit by a gust of wind" from the left and the airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and continued over grass. The nose landing gear impacted a mound of dirt and collapsed. The airplane traveled a few hundred feet past the mound and eventually came to rest in a nose down attitude. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he was flying the airplane to a nearby airport for a maintenance inspection. On the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern the pilot received current wind information from a pilot on the ground. He then configured the airplane to land and flew a "normal approach." During landing, the main landing gear touched down just past the displaced threshold while the airplane was travelling at 77 knots. The airplane "bounced" and, while in the air, the pilot held the airplane at a "normal landing attitude." The airplane was then "hit by a gust of wind" from the left and the airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and continued over grass. The nose landing gear impacted a mound of dirt and collapsed. The airplane traveled a few hundred feet past the mound and eventually came to rest in a nose down attitude. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2890Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2890Z-2021-10-02), registration cancelled 2021-10-02, S/N 28-7921089, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-201T (201T)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-201t) (registry code 7102819) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7921089
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 8182
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 201 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Turbo D LLC
- Registered owner: Turbo D LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2013
- Departed: DTS, DESTIN, FL
- Destination: 54J, Defuniak Springs, FL
- Airport: 54J, Defuniak Springs, runway 27, 4,146 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 14, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 877.4 total, 500 in this make and model, 877.4 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: CEW, 19 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 20140606009029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140606009029A), Jun 6, 2014: Piper PA-28-201T, Defuniak Spring, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft encountered a gust of wind at landing and veered lt sharply on rwy 27 at touchdown Defuniak Springs FL (54J). The aircraft experenced a violent impact…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89404. 7.3 MB in all.

- NTSB Pilot 6120.1 Form (item 1, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Pilot%206120.1%20Form-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photograph #1 – Picture of Airplane at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%231%20%E2%80%93%20Picture%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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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