# NTSB ERA24LA002: Piper PA-28-180, N7461W, Gallipolis, OH, October 2, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 2, 2023, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Gallipolis, OH
- Coordinates: 38.834111, -82.16343 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8341&lon=-82.1634&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- 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): 193186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193186/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA002

## Probable cause

A collapse of the nose landing gear during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with an approach lighting system.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/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 student pilot approached the runway for landing and described that the main landing gear first touched down first. The nose landing gear then contacted the runway and immediately collapsed. The student pilot applied the brakes and the airplane departed the left side of the runway onto the grass. The airplane struck a lighting system and came to rest about 35 ft from the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported “there were no visible signs of mechanical failure” on the nose landing gear prior to the accident flight, and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the nose landing gear after the accident did not observe any mechanical discrepancies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7461W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7461W), registered now, S/N 28-1367, 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: 28-1367
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 2649.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2023
- Departed: CRW, Charleston, WV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GAS, Gallia-Meigs Rgnl, runway 05/23, 3,999 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total, 87 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: PKB, 45 nm away
- METAR: KPKB 022353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/18 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP224 T02110178 10289 20206 53003

## 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 20231002014109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231002014109A), Oct 2, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Gallipolis, OH, Substantial damage. Upon landing runway 05, on a calm clear evening. Following the mains touching down just past the numbers, the nose gear buckled and the prop struck the runway…

## Other investigations on N7461W (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC65F0041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC65F0041), Feb 20, 1965: Piper PA28 (N7461W), Opewell, VA, substantial damage

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.

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