# NTSB ERA21LA226: Piper PA-28-180, N16528, Lincoln Park, NJ, May 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 23, 2021, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Lincoln Park, NJ · Airport property and trees bordering - Coordinates: 40.947524, -74.314501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9475&lon=-74.3145&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 103129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103129/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103129 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA226 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during an aborted landing in crosswind conditions. ## 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 · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [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-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [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-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to make his final approach and landing after the preceding three successful landings in gusty crosswind conditions. The pilot described that during touchdown, the airplane bounced once and became airborne when it was struck by a strong gust of wind. The pilot aborted the landing by adding full power, retracting one notch of flaps, and attempted to re-center the airplane on the runway. The airplane then departed the runway surface and impacted the trees bordering the left side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot report that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16528](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16528-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 28-7305275, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-7305275 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: N07, Lincoln Park, runway 01/19, 2,942 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,167 total, 775 in this make and model, 2,043 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: CDW, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KCDW 232253Z 34008G14KT 300V010 10SM BKN100 30/16 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP127 T03000161= ## 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 20210523009959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210523009959A), May 23, 2021: Piper PA-28-180, Lincoln Park, NJ, Substantial damage. Lincoln Park, (N07) NJ 05/23/2021 at approximately 2239Z , during landing on runway 1 N16528, PA28, the left landing gear contacted the right side runway… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103129. 28.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12446894&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N16528%20NTSB%20REPORT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 21.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12434310&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statements_2021-05-24_084403_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 3, MOV, 410 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12434647&FileExtension=mov&FileName=IMG_1497-Rel.mov - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12447677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.