# NTSB ERA21LA061: Piper PA28, N8056N, Bellefonte, PA, November 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 29, 2020, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Bellefonte, PA - Coordinates: 40.8855, -77.816222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8855&lon=-77.8162&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102374/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102374 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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; 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 · Pilot; 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. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting solo touch and go landings and on the fourth landing, the airplane was “blown” off the runway centerline on short final approach. She applied left rudder to return to the centerline, but upon touchdown, there was “…too much left rudder,” and the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway into the grass. The pilot did not apply brakes before impacting a gully and fence, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8056N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8056N-2022-09-27), registration cancelled 2022-09-27, S/N 28-25304, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-25304 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 9007 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pleasant Valley Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Pleasant Valley Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2020 - Departed: N96, Bellefonte, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N96, Bellefonte, runway 25, 3,680 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 60.2 total, 60.2 in this make and model, 1.2 as pilot in command, 7.3 in the last 90 days, 4.2 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: University Park ATIS, 2 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 20201129017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201129017799A), Nov 29, 2020: Piper PA-28-140, Bellefonte, PA, Substantial damage. Airman was student pilot on solo flight. Airman completed two landings. While airman, was attempting third landing in the traffic pattern. Airman attempted to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102374. 10.8 MB in all. - Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11789597&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA061_NTSB%206120-signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11789296&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Aircraft%20Owner-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11790676&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11789607&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA21LA061-Rel.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.