# NTSB FTW04LA095: Piper PA-30, N572AS, Galveston, TX, March 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 16, 2004, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Galveston, TX - Coordinates: 29.265277, -94.860275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2653&lon=-94.8603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58915 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58915/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A factor was the pilot's failure to evaluate the wind, prior to landing downwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The twin-engine airplane skidded off the runway 31 following a loss of directional control while landing downwind. The 580-hour pilot reported that the final approach was "normal." As the aircraft touched down on Runway 31, the main landing gear hit first, followed by the nose landing gear. After the nose wheel touched-down, the airplane immediately began to feel "squirrelly," and the inputs to the rudder "seemed" to be ineffective. The pilot stated that the brakes "locked up." The aircraft slid for approximately 350 feet and veered off the right side of the runway into an embankment. The winds at the airport at the time of the accident were reported from 130 degrees at 7 knots. Flight control continuity was established and no anomalies were found with the airframe. ## Factual narrative On March 16, 2004, at 1400 central standard time, a Piper PA-30 twin-engine airplane, N572AS, registered to and operated by Aerial Survey, Inc., of Galveston, Texas, was substantially damaged following a loss of directional control while landing at the Scholes International Airport (GLS), near Galveston, Texas. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated at 0945. The 580-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the final approach was "normal." As the aircraft touched down on Runway 31, the main landing gear hit first, followed by the nose landing gear. After the nose wheel touched-down, the airplane immediately began to feel "squirrelly," and the inputs to the rudder "seemed" to be ineffective. The pilot stated that the brakes "locked up." The aircraft slid for approximately 350 feet and veered off the right side of the runway into an embankment. In a separate statement provided by the operator, the pilot-rated passenger stated that the pilot purchased a block of time from the operator to gain flight experience as a pilot in command of a twin-engine airplane and that he accompanied the pilot-in-command (PIC) as an observer. He reported that the PIC was the sole manipulator of the controls. The pattern entry was "normal," the downwind leg was "normal," and the pre-landing checks were completed. On the base leg, the PIC called for flaps and 10 degrees of flaps were deployed and visually verified. The final leg was "normal," and approach speed "appeared" to be correct, along with the alignment to the runway. Runway touchdown was "normal." During the rollout, the PIC lost directional control and applied "heavy" brake pressure, locking them up. As the airplane exited the runway, the pilot-rated passenger ensured that the throttles were closed. The airplane came to rest after skidding off the runway and into the grass. Runway 31 was 6,000 feet long by 150 feet wide. The runway surface was reported to be in fair condition, with the first 1,300 feet of the runway concrete, and the remaining runway surface asphalt. The reported winds at GLS at the time of the accident were from 130 degrees at 7 knots. Examination of the aircraft by a FAA airworthiness inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the right wing spar, and the right main landing gear was collapsed. Flight control continuity was established and no anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N572AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N572AS-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 30-620, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-620 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerial Survey Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GLS, Galveston, TX - Destination: GLS, Galveston, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GLS, Scholes International, runway 31, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 80 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: GLS ## 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 20040316006569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040316006569A), Mar 16, 2004: Piper PA30, Galveston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 16, 2004, at approximately 13:52 CDT, a Piper PA-30-30, N572AS, received substantial damage when the (PIC) colin megless, lost control of the… 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.