# NTSB ERA21LA351: Piper PA-28-180, N5166S, Philadelphia, PA, September 6, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 6, 2021, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Philadelphia, PA - Coordinates: 40.137556, -75.265139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1376&lon=-75.2651&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 103818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103818/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103818 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA351 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the wing’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane entered airspace under a Temporary Flight Restriction and was escorted to the accident airport by military aircraft. Pilots at the airport who witnessed the accident described the airplane’s approach as “long, slow, and unstable” and stated that the wings were “rocking.” They each described the airplane experiencing an aerodynamic stall where the airplane “dropped sharply” from about 50 feet above the runway surface. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that there were no mechanical deficiencies with his airplane that would have precluded normal operations, and that a vibration he detected before ground contact was “the stalled wing.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5166S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5166S-2023-03-10), registration cancelled 2023-03-10, S/N 28-7105020, built 1970 (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: 28-7105020 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 2054 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LOM, Wings Fld, runway 06/24, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 1992; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 602 total, 515 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KLOM - METAR: 062015Z AUTO 26008G16KT 220V280 10SM SCT065 27/13 A2982 RMK AO2 T02710130 ## 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 20210906015739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210906015739A), Sep 6, 2021: Piper PA-28-180, Blue Bell, PA, Substantial damage. After penetrating an active vip TFR and being intercepted by a military aircraft, pilot landed at home base airport, Wings Field (klom). While in the pattern,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103818. 991 KB in all. - FAA inspector's statement memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12742599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Michael%20J.%20Floriani%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Witness statements trego (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12742183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5166S%20witness%20statement%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements rouiller (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12742148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=James%20John%20Rouiller%20II%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records annual inspection (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 747 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12924700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5166S%20Airframe%20Annual%20-%2091.413_Redacted-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.