# NTSB ERA21LA285: Piper PA-28-140, N91W, Greensboro, NC, July 7, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 7, 2021, 09:31 local (13:31 UTC) - Place: Greensboro, NC · KGSO - Coordinates: 36.101327, -79.941123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1013&lon=-79.9411&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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 103473 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103473/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103473 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA285 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper flare which resulted in abnormal ground contact and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [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 approaching to land at his home airport on a solo flight. The wind was almost directly down the runway at 6 knots. After he turned onto the base leg of the traffic pattern, air traffic control (ATC) inquired if he had turned base. He informed them he had and needed to immediately turn on the final. ATC then asked an airplane to hold position. His approach angle was normal, he was on the centerline, and his airspeed was about 85 mph. As he crossed the threshold of the runway, he reduced the throttle to idle, and the airplane touched down firmly, but did not bounce. When the nosewheel contacted the runway pavement, the airplane began shaking and the airplane began heading towards the right side of the runway. The student pilot attempted to correct, but his corrections started a series of oscillations which grew in amplitude. The airplane then entered the grass next to the runway and he let the airplane continue along its path of travel for fear of flipping the airplane over. The airplane then encountered a drainage ditch and came to rest on the other side of it. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91W), registered now, S/N 28-25441, built 1969 (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: 28-25441 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 7037.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bethany Aviation - Registered owner: Bethany Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2021 - Departed: GSO, Greensboro, NC - Airport: GSO, Piedmont Triad Intl, runway 23R, 9,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 68.1 total, 68.1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 17,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KGSO - METAR: KGSO 071354Z 23006KT 10SM FEW035 FEW070 BKN170 BKN250 27/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02720183 ## 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 20210707010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210707010439A), Jul 7, 2021: Piper PA-28-140, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. Student pilot conducting solo pattern work landed on gso runway 23R and lost directional control departing the runway to the left. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103473. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport diagram (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768715&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.