# NTSB FTW03LA207: Piper PA-28R-200, N2981R, Roanoke, TX, January 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2003, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Roanoke, TX - Coordinates: 33.04972, -97.232223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0497&lon=-97.2322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Fort Worth FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57799/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57799 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA207 ## Probable cause The failure of the main landing gear assembly and attach points for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - landing gear,main gear - failure,partial (cause) ## Analysis On a post-flight inspection, the left main landing gear was found forced through the upper left wing surface, and the right main landing gear distorted the upper right wing surface. The reason for the failure of the main landing gear assembly and attach points was not determined. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2003, about 1000 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200 single-engine airplane, N2981R, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the runway while landing at Northwest Regional Airport (52F) near Roanoke, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Marcair Aviation, Inc., of Roanoke, Texas. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 instructional flight, which departed 52F approximately 0900. The 9,200-hour flight instructor reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that on the preflight inspection of the airplane, no abnormalities were found, but on the post-flight inspection, a crack in the upper skin on the left wing was discovered. The owner of the airplane reported to the FAA that the left main landing gear was forced through the upper left wing skin, and the right main landing gear distorted the upper right wing skin. He also added that the nose gear, engine mount, and steering rods were bent. Runway 17 is 3,500 feet long and 50 feet wide. Wind was reported by the weather observation facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), which is about six miles southwest, to be from 240 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2981R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2981R-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 28R-35370, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35370 - Airframe hours: 2204.81 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Marcair Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Creighton Cardwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 2002, 21.2 hours before - Departed: 52/F, Roanoke, TX - Destination: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Airport: 52F, Northwest Regional Airport, runway 17, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 9,200 total, 50 in this make and model, 7,100 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review October 30, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 400 total, 70 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: AFW, 6 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 20030109031109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030109031109A), Jan 9, 2003: Piper PA28R200, Roanoke, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 9, 2003, about 1000 central standard time, a Piper PA-24R-200 single engine aircraft, N2981R, sustained damage when it impacted the runway… ## Other investigations on N2981R (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 DFW05FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05FA099), Apr 10, 2005: Piper PA-28R-200 (N2981R), Jefferson, TX, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an unmarked transmission line. A contributing factor was the low altitude flight. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57799. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.