# NTSB ERA21LA254: Piper PA-28-140, N4281J, Ozark, AL, June 16, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2021, 19:25 local (Jun 16, 2021, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Ozark, AL
- Coordinates: 31.432919, -85.622618
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4329&lon=-85.6226&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 - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103274
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103274/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103274
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA254

## Probable cause

The pilot's 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.

- [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-28-140, 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 (probable cause); 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)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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)

## Analysis

The student pilot was landing the airplane in a crosswind and reported that on final approach a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right of centerline. As it crossed the runway numbers the pilot applied “too much” back pressure, the airplane ballooned, bounced, and settled onto the runway. The airplane then began to veer to the right, and pilot attempted to correct the movement but overcorrected and the airplane veered to the left into the grass. The pilot realized that the airplane was not slowing, applied “more pressure” to the brakes, but the airplane proceeded down an incline. The nose landing gear then collapsed, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage cabin, rudder, and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4281J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4281J), registered now, S/N 28-22641, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- 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: 28-22641
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 4470
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2021
- Airport: 71J, Ozark-Blackwell Field, runway 13/31, 5,152 × 80 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 20.3 total, 20 in this make and model, 3.4 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: HEY, 5 nm away
- METAR: KHEY 160058Z AUTO 23004KT 8SM CLR 27/22 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02660218

## 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 20210616007789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210616007789A), Jun 16, 2021: Piper PA-28-140, Ozark, AL, Substantial damage. Student pilot was practicing pattern work attempting to land on rwy 13. Student pilot stated he appeared to be going faster than normal. Tried to correct…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103274. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12422702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA254_Johnson_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 12 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12549829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12421428&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 461 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12391428&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA21LA254-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.

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