# NTSB ERA24LA111: Piper PA-32-301T, N484AP, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, February 7, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 7, 2024, 12:26 local (17:26 UTC)
- Place: Palm Beach Gardens, FL · F45 Airport
- Coordinates: 26.845917, -80.222333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8459&lon=-80.2223&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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): 193776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193776/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193776
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA111

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll in a gusting crosswind.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103209), [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-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that he was intending to perform a touch and go landing at his home airport. Weather reports around the time of the accident indicated a 13 knot direct crosswind with wind gusts up to 21 knots. The pilot stated that immediately after the left main landing gear touched the runway, the airplane started to drift to the left. The airplane exited the runway into the grass, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The runway excursion resulted in the vertical stabilizer sustaining substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N484AP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N484AP), registered now, S/N 32-8124003, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301t) (registry code 7103209) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-8124003
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 3426
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2023, 40 hours before
- Departed: F45, North Palm Beach, FL
- Airport: F45, North Palm Beach County General Aviation, runway 09R, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 560 total, 125 in this make and model, 435 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: F45
- METAR: METAR KF45 071710Z AUTO 36013G21KT 10SM CLR 22/10 A3008 RMK AO2 TSNO=

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193776. 11.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16852709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20Pilot%27s%206120%20Form%20Filled_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� email, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16852827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Pilot%20Email%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16852942&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20Display%20metars-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16852952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20Investigation%20Photos-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.