# NTSB ERA21LA205: Piper PA-28-161, N2136M, Columbia, KY, April 30, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 30, 2021, 17:29 local (22:29 UTC) - Place: Columbia, KY - Coordinates: 37.085638, -85.343805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0856&lon=-85.3438&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - 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): 103031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103031/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103031 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA205 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to obtain a proper touchdown point on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was landing to verify the fuel quantity in the airplane. Witnesses observed the pilot reject one landing and perform a go-around maneuver. On the second landing, he touched down about ¾ down the 2,600 ft runway and continued off the departure end into the grass and impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and engine mounts. After the accident, the pilot stated that the runway was “a short runway, and [he] didn’t anticipate it.” Furthermore, he reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2136M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2136M), registered now, S/N 28-7816253, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 (NO SERIES) - 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: 28-7816253 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3420.6 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D30 161 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2020, 4 hours before - Departed: LUK, Cincinnati, OH - Destination: BHM, Birmingham, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: I96, Columbia-Adair County, runway 8, 2,600 × 80 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Heads up display, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,990 total, 1,990 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg ## 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 20210430007609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210430007609A), Apr 30, 2021: Piper PA-28-161, Columbia, KY, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed long on first attempt, pilot elected to do a go around. On second attempt aircraft landed long again on same runway, and went off the end… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103031. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12278779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA205%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12279079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20Pilot%20LA205-Rel.pdf - Witness interview summaries (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12277764&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Interview%20Summaries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12278789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA205-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.