# NTSB FTW02LA135: Piper PA-28-180, N7504W, Santa Teresa, NM, May 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 2, 2002, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Teresa, NM - Coordinates: 31.881111, -106.704719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8811&lon=-106.7047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54622 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54622/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54622 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA135 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions resulting in a loss of control of the airplane during the landing. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis During, the landing on runway 28, the airplane veered off the runway when it encountered gusty crosswinds. The nearest weather observation facility ( located approximately 22 nautical miles east of the accident site) reported the wind from 220 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 16 knots. Further, the wind was reported as variable from 180 degrees to 260 degrees. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 2002, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 single-engine airplane, N7504W, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during landing on runway 28 at the Dona Ana County Airport near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The airplane was owned by PIR, Inc., of Salem, Oregon, and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed San Angelo, Texas, at an unknown time, with a planned destination of Deming, New Mexico. The pilot reported that during the cross-country flight the airplane encountered "strong headwinds and got low on fuel." The pilot requested and received flight following to the nearest airport for refueling. During the landing, the aircraft veered off the runway when it encountered gusty winds. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest upright. A mechanic, who examined the airplane, reported structural damage to the engine firewall. At 1251, the El Paso weather observation facility (located approximately 22 nautical miles east of the accident site) reported the wind from 220 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 16 knots. Further, the wind was variable from 180 degrees to 260 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7504W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7504W), registered now, S/N 28-2905, built 1965 (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-360-A3A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a3a) (registry code 42267, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2905 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A1 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: PIR, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 2001 - Departed: SJT, San Angelo, TX - Destination: DMN, Deming, NM - Airport: 5T6, Santa Teresa, runway 28, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review May 16, 1996; seat: left; flight hours: 469 total, 460 in this make and model, 394 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 22 nm away ## 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 20020502008129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020502008129A), May 2, 2002: Piper PA28180, Santa Teresa, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) En route to deming, NM pilot determined need for unscheduled fuel stop due to strong headwinds. Pilot informed abq ARTCC and was given dona ana county… ## Other investigations on N7504W (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 CHI77DEP15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77DEP15), Jan 30, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N7504W), Pewaukee, WI, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54622. 730 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 594 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Meteorology Metar Report (item 2, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Meteorology%20Metar%20Report-Master.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.