# NTSB ERA26LA220: Piper PA-28-180, N55739, Chesapeake, VA, May 28, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 28, 2026, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Chesapeake, VA · On Airport - Coordinates: 36.780765, -76.45128 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7808&lon=-76.4513&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2026 - 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): 203077 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203077/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA220 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to continue with an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and collision with a runway marker light and sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/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 pilot stated that he made an unstable approach, after which the airplane landed hard and bounced. A gust of wind caught the airplane’s right wing during the bounce and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The left wing collided with a runway marker light and a directional sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing spar and punctured the fuel tank. The pilot was able to get the airplane back on the runway and aborted the landing. Once airborne, he smelled fuel, declared an emergency and landed without further incident. The pilot reported there were no mechanical issues that contributed to the accident and that he should have gone around versus trying to force a landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55739](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55739), registered now, S/N 28-7305456, built 1973 (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: 28-7305456 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 3751.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2026 - Departed: GED, Georgetown, DE - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVG, Hampton Roads Exec, runway 10/28, 5,350 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 139 total, 23 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PVG - METAR: METAR KPVG 281755Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW050 28/18 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP299 61000 10280 20220 57003 PWINO FZRANO RVRNO 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.