# NTSB ERA22LA377: Piper PA-28-180, N7695W, Lehighton, PA, August 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 10, 2022, 18:23 local (22:23 UTC) - Place: Lehighton, PA - Coordinates: 40.809509, -75.761496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8095&lon=-75.7615&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - 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): 105773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA377 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105773/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105773 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA377 ## Probable cause The pilot failure to ensure the runway was clear before landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with runway lights. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he stated he was landing in the evening and the sun was low on the horizon. While he was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he heard another pilot state that they were departing from the runway. As the pilot turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the sun was in his eyes, and he could not see very well. After the airplane touched down on the runway, he noticed the departing airplane right in front of him and he veered hard to the right to avoid a collision. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and contacted runway lights resulting in substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have resulted normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7695W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7695W), registered now, S/N 28-1618 (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: 28-1618 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: Lycoming O-360A3A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Krupa Circle 3 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: 22N, Jake Arner Meml, runway 8, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 726 total, 185 in this make and model, 712 as pilot in command, 5.1 in the last 90 days, 2.4 in the last 30 days, 2.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 17 nm away - METAR: KABE 102251Z 30004KT 10SM FEW050 28/17 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02830167 $ ## 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 20220810014409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220810014409A), Aug 10, 2022: Piper PA-28-180, Lehighton, PA, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], PA28, landed runway 26 at 22N and went off the side, striking the visual approach slope indicator lights (VASI) with the right wing.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105773. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14558696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14558490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 656 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14559370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27sv1-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.