# NTSB FTW03LA161: Piper PA-28-140, N1470X, Conroe, TX, May 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2003, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Conroe, TX - Coordinates: 30.351667, -95.414443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3517&lon=-95.4144&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57073 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57073/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA161 ## Probable cause the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind. A contributing factor was the gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The student pilot was attempting the third landing to runway 19 on his first supervised solo flight. The pilot said, " During the landing flare approximately 5-6 feet off the runway my right wing jerked severely to the left." He said, " I lost control for a couple of seconds before I was able to level the wings. The wind shear tossed the plane 40-50 degrees to the left..." Subsequently, the airplane's nose gear touched down and collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the side of the runway. The pilot reported at the time of the accident, the wind was from 190 degrees at 10 knots. Approximately the time of the accident, the airport weather facility reported the wind from 190 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The pilot had reported 17 hours of total flight time, all in make and model. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2003, approximately 1015 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 single-engine airplane, N1470X, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at the Montgomery County Airport (CXO), near Conroe, Texas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The supervised solo flight departed CXO approximately 1000. The 17-hour student pilot reported he was attempting the third landing to runway 19 on his first supervised solo flight. During the landing flare, "approximately 5-6 feet off the runway my right wing jerked severely to the left." The pilot "lost control for a couple of seconds before [he] was able to level the wings. The windshear tossed the plane 40-50 degrees to the left..." Subsequently, the airplane's nose gear touched down and collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the left side of the runway. The pilot reported at the time of the accident, the wind was from 190 degrees at 10 knots. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported both wing spars were bent, and the firewall was buckled. At 1038, the CXO automated surface observation system (ASOS) reported the wind from 190 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1470X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1470X-2006-06-12), registration cancelled 2006-06-12, S/N 28-7525307, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7525307 - Airframe hours: 3180 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles A. Ballard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2002, 95 hours before - Departed: CXO, Conroe, TX - Airport: CXO, Montgomery County, runway 19, 3,974 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 13 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: CXO ## 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 20030514013349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030514013349A), May 14, 2003: Piper PA28140, Conroe, TX, Minor damage. (-23) This incident occurred after two successful touch and go landings during the first supervised solo event. On the third and final supervised solo landing… 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.