# NTSB ERA15CA116: Piper PA-28R-200, N5033S, Deland, FL, January 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 12, 2015, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Deland, FL - Coordinates: 29.066944, -81.283607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0669&lon=-81.2836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90681 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90681/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90681 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning and decision to land in an area with known convective wind gusts, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had decided to return to his originating airport after having been advised by air traffic control of an inbound thunderstorm during a local flight. The pilot obtained an instrument flight rules clearance and headed towards the airport, which was in the direction of the storm. During the first landing attempt on runway 30, the pilot noted strong wind gusts and "extreme precipitation," but elected to continue the landing. About 30 feet above the runway, a "strong windshear" forced the airplane onto the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane subsequently lifted off the ground again and the pilot initiated a go-around. The pilot circled the runway and aborted three more attempts before he successfully landed the airplane. He reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he had obtained some weather information prior to his departure, but was not aware of the thunderstorm. A review of weather radar revealed the presence of strong winds and heavy precipitation over the pilot's originating airport at the time of the accident. Winds reported at the accident site about 10 minutes after the accident were from 320 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 27 knots. There were also area forecasts for convective activity and Convective Sigmets that had been issued for the pilot's route of flight about one hour and thirty minutes prior to his departure. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he had decided to return to his originating airport after having been advised by air traffic control of an inbound thunderstorm during a local flight. The pilot obtained an instrument flight rules clearance and headed towards the airport, which was in the direction of the storm. During the first landing attempt on runway 30, the pilot noted strong wind gusts and "extreme precipitation," but elected to continue the landing. About 30 feet above the runway, a "strong windshear" forced the airplane onto the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane subsequently lifted off the ground again and the pilot initiated a go-around. The pilot circled the runway and aborted three more attempts before he successfully landed the airplane. He reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he had obtained some weather information prior to his departure, but was not aware of the thunderstorm. A review of weather radar revealed the presence of strong winds and heavy precipitation over the pilot's originating airport at the time of the accident. Winds reported at the accident site about 10 minutes after the accident were from 320 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 27 knots. There were also area forecasts for convective activity and Convective Sigmets that had been issued for the pilot's route of flight about one hour and thirty minutes prior to his departure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5033S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5033S), registered now, S/N 28R-35762, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35762 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 2633.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C5 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Skyline Solutions Inc - Registered owner: Skyline Solutions Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2014, 45 hours before - Departed: EVB, New Smyrna, FL - Destination: DED, Deland, FL - Airport: DED, Deland Taylor Airport, runway 30, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 311 total, 67 in this make and model, 192 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 16 knots, gusting 27 - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Observed at: DED ## 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 20150112001509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150112001509A), Jan 12, 2015: Piper PA-28R-200, Deland, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot was on an instrument approach into Deland. Did not make the first attempt for landing. Circled the airport in IFR conditions and tried 4 other times… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90681. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Report (item 3, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photograph #1 – Airplane Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%231%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20Left%20Wing%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. --- 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.