# NTSB ERA21LA079: Piper PA-28-161, N8436T, Nantucket, MA, December 11, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 11, 2020, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Nantucket, MA · Taxiway E - Coordinates: 41.259407, -70.058238 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2594&lon=-70.0582&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - 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/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102427/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102427 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from obstacles during the attempted go around following an approach to landing in sun glare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of a visual flight rules flight, the pilot completed a practice instrument approach to the runway. When he decoupled the autopilot at the conclusion of the approach, he looked up and was momentarily blinded by the setting sun. When he regained sight, the airplane had drifted to the right of the runway centerline. The tower controller then advised him to execute a go-around, and the pilot added full power and held the nose level to gain airspeed before climbing. The airplane subsequently struck a construction barricade on a closed taxiway. The pilot continued around the airport traffic pattern and made a normal landing. As a result of the impact with the barrier, the airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8436T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8436T), registered now, S/N 28-8116321, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8116321 - Year built: 1981 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 161 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KEWB, New Bedford, MA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ACK, Nantucket Memorial, runway 06, 6,300 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 89; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,686 total, 439 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 8 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: ACK ## 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 20201211017559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201211017559A), Dec 11, 2020: Piper PA-28-161, Nantucket, MA, Substantial damage. N8436T was inbound to land runway 24 at ack. The ack lc observed N8436T lined up for taxiway e and issued go around instructions. The pilot described that he… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102427. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11789091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11788421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.