# NTSB ERA23LA311: Piper PA-28-180, N7528W, Winter Haven, FL, July 22, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 22, 2023, 07:37 local (11:37 UTC) - Place: Winter Haven, FL - Coordinates: 28.06292, -81.753314 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0629&lon=-81.7533&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): 192708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192708/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192708 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA311 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a taxiway sign. ## 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) ## 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-28-180, 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was on a solo cross-country flight. The pilot arrived at the destination airport, and after an uneventful landing, he planned to practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. While on short final approach during the next landing attempt, the pilot contemplated going around as the airplane was not aligned with the runway. He instead continued to approach and attempted to correct the misalignment. While crossing the runway threshold, the airplane was “a little high” and still not aligned along the runway centerline. The pilot reduced the engine power and continued his attempt to align the airplane with the runway using the rudder. The pilot then decided to go around just as the landing gear contacted the runway, adding engine power and pulling back the control yoke. The airplane then veered to the left and departed the runway surface as the pilot reduced the engine power back to idle to stop the go-around attempt. It subsequently collided with a taxiway sign and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were not preimpact mechanical malfunctions or the failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7528W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7528W), registered now, S/N 28-1449, built 1963 (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: 28-1449 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 6092 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: GIF, Winter Haven Rgnl, runway 05, 5,005 × 99 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KGIF - METAR: KGIF 221253Z AUTO 21007KT 10SM CLR 28/25 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP144 T02830250 ## 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 20230722010729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230722010729A), Jul 22, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage. On 07/22/2023, at approx. 11:37Z, a PA-28-180, s/n:28-1449 the solo student pilot experienced a runway excursion after a hard landing and attempted go-around… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192708. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16282310&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA311%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - damage asessment (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16322129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MFR%20LA311-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16322581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA311-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.