# NTSB ERA15LA356: Piper PA-24, N7708P, Stratford, CT, September 7, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2015, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Stratford, CT - Coordinates: 41.163333, -73.126113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1633&lon=-73.1261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 17, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91971 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA356 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91971/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91971 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA356 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind. ## 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-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102402), [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-24, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the airport after the cross-country flight, he checked the weather, which indicated that the surface wind was from 230 degrees at 10 knots. He chose to land on runway 29 because runway 24 was closed. He stated that, on final approach, the "crosswind became evident." After touchdown, the airplane veered sharply left. The pilot used steering and braking inputs to keep the airplane on the runway, but his efforts were not successful, and there was no noticeable reduction in speed. The airplane subsequently exited the runway surface and spun sharply left. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and right wing. Examination of the brakes, rudder, and nose wheel steering systems revealed no discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2015, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N7708P, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion after landing at Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Stratford, Connecticut. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Peoria International Airport (PIA), Peoria, Illinois at 0753.According to the pilot, as he approached the New Jersey area, he checked the BDR weather and noted that the surface wind was from 230 degrees at 10 knots. Since runway 24 was closed, he selected runway 29 for landing. On final approach, the "crosswind became evident." After touchdown, the airplane "veered sharply to the left." His attempt to remain on the runway was unsuccessful. Steering and braking attempts "did not work" and there was no noticeable reduction in speed. After the airplane exited the runway surface, it spun "sharply to the left." The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane came to a stop, and the pilot secured the engine and exited the cockpit. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The fuselage, empennage, and right wing sustained structural damage from impact forces. The right wing spar was bent about 4 feet from the wing tip. The right main landing gear linkage pierced the upper wing surface. The empennage was bent at the aft bulkhead. The aircraft brakes, rudder and nose wheel steering systems were examined by the FAA inspector; no discrepancies were found. At the time of the accident, the pilot had logged about 700 hours total time, including 414 hours in the PA-24. In response to the question of how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot responded that he would have diverted to alternate airport with lower or no crosswind component, stopped mid-way through the trip to wait for the wind to improve, and obtained more crosswind landing practice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7708P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7708P-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 24-2920, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (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: 24-2920 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 5026 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kumar Sanjay - Registered owner: Kumar Sanjay - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2015, 35 hours before - Departed: PIA, Peoria, IL - Destination: BDR, Stratford, CT - Airport: BDR, Igor I Sikorsky, runway 29, 4,761 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 701 total, 414 in this make and model, 516 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BDR ## 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 20150907015399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150907015399A), Sep 7, 2015: Piper PA-24, Stratford, CT, Substantial damage. On September 07, 2015, N7708P, Piper model PA-24, en route non-stop from peoria Illinois (pai) landed at Sikorsky memorial airport (bdr). The said aircraft… ## Other investigations on N7708P (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 UNK64X3458](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3458), Aug 18, 1964: Piper PA24 (N7708P), Anna Maria, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91971. 1.9 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=40435490&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - Lenert (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435491&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20Lenert-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.