# NTSB ERA21LA175: Piper PA-28-161, N562PU, Fort Pierce, FL, March 16, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 16, 2021, 10:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.497472, -80.372639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4975&lon=-80.3726&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: 2 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): 102887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA175 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [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-28-161, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102803), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [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-28-161, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102803), [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-28-161, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); 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 The student pilot was flying with the flight instructor to practice unassisted landings for the first time. The flight instructor stated that due to the gusting right crosswind, the approaches were bumpy, and the airspeed fluctuated. During the third landing of the flight, on the final approach, the airplane began to drift to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane’s nose veered right when the student pilot flared and although the flight instructor attempted to recover, the airplane had insufficient airspeed and sank toward the runway. Upon landing, the airplane travelled to the right, departed the runway, and impacted runway signage. The right main landing gear assembly separated from the airplane upon impact with runway signage, and the airplane pivoted on the right wing before coming to rest in the grass. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that she should have instructed the student to perform a go-around procedure when the approach became unstable. The recorded wind at the time of the accident was a direct right crosswind at 8 knots and did not reference gusting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N562PU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N562PU), registered now, S/N 2842104, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - 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: 2842104 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 11641.5 - Engines: Lycoming O320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flightsafety International Inc - Registered owner: Flightsafety International Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 4, 2021, 13.3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FPR, Treasure Coast Intl, runway 10L/28R, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 594 total, 470 in this make and model, 512 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: FPR ## 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 20210316006109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210316006109A), Mar 16, 2021: Piper PA-28-161, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. The flight plan: east departure, normal takeoff, climb check, cruise check, get ATIS for Fort Pierce, approach briefing, approach checklist, 5 full stop taxi… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102887. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12157437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA175%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12155345&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-ROC%20Instructor_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Chief flight instructor's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12157500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-ROC%20Chief%20Instructor_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Area weather reports (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12535383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Area%20Weather%20Reports-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12157584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA175%20Photo%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.