# NTSB ERA23LA244: Piper PA28, N8992J, Reidsville, NC, May 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 23, 2023, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Reidsville, NC - Coordinates: 36.438941, -79.853334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4389&lon=-79.8533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 192236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192236/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192236 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in a crosswind. ## 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-28-180, 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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 The solo student pilot described that, during the landing approach, there was a crosswind from the right. When the airplane touched down, it drifted to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by applying right rudder, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and continued through a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8992J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8992J), registered now, S/N 28-3016, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-3016 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 6430 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 2023, 80 hours before - Departed: HKY, Hickory, NC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SIF, Rockingham County, runway 13, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; sport pilot; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 5.1 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5.7 in the last 30 days, 2.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KSIF - METAR: METAR KSIF 231645Z AUTO 08006KT 040V110 10SM CLR 22/09 A3021 RMK AO2 T02210087 ## 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 20230523006119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230523006119A), May 23, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Stoneville, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed. Turned to the left and hit a drainage ditch. The nose gear folded under the aircraft and came to rest in the ditch. The pilot in command was a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192236. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15716555&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15716349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15716359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15716873&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.