# NTSB FTW04LA191: Piper PA-28R-180, N4634J, Blackwell, OK, July 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2004, 12:37 local (17:37 UTC) - Place: Blackwell, OK - Coordinates: 36.744998, -97.349441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7450&lon=-97.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59681 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59681/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA191 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision by his delay in taking corrective action during the landing roll. ## 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) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - sign - Gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis The 85-hour pilot receiving instruction reported that during the landing roll on runway 17 (a 3,500-foot long and 60-foot wide asphalt runway), he applied the brakes, and the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder but the airplane continued to veer left. The left main landing gear dropped off of the side of the runway into the grass. The 2,484-hour flight instructor then instructed the pilot to "go-around." As the airplane became airborne, the left main landing gear struck a taxiway sign. The pilot stated that after the collision, he noticed the there was no gear-down light for the left main gear. The flight instructor performed an emergency landing on runway 17 holding the airplane the right main landing gear as long as he could. As the airspeed bled off, the left wing impacted the runway surface. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. A weather reporting station located 12 nautical miles from the accident site reported win from 180 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2004, at 1237 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180 single-engine airplane, N4634J, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing on runway 17 at the Blackwell-Tonkawa Municipal Airport (4O3), near Blackwell, Oklahoma. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving flight instruction were not injured. The airplane was registered and operated by the pilot receiving instruction. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the Blackwell airport at time unknown. The 85-hour pilot receiving instruction reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after maneuvering in the vicinity of 4O3, they decided to land at 4O3. After turning base to final for runway 17 (a 3,500-foot long and 60-foot wide asphalt runway), the pilot noticed that the gear-down lights were not illuminated. The pilot aborted the landing and performed a go-around. After going through a checklist, the pilot discovered the circuit breaker switch had been pulled. The pilot reset the switch and the landing gear cycled normally. On the second approach to landing, the pilot told the 2,484-hour flight instructor that he was too high and decided to perform another go-around. On the third approach to landing, the pilot stated that the airplane was stabilized on the glide slope at 85 knots. The pilot throttled back to idle upon crossing the runway threshold. The airplane touched down near the 1,000-foot marker. During the landing roll, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane began to veer to the left of centerline. The pilot applied right rudder but the airplane continued to veer left. The left main landing gear dropped-off the side of the runway into the grass. The instructor then instructed the pilot to "go-around." As the airplane became airborne, the left main landing gear struck a taxiway sign. The flight instructor took over control of the airplane after the collision with the taxiway sign, and the pilot noticed there was no gear-down light for the left main gear. When the instructor lined up on final to runway 17 for the emergency landing, he told the pilot to "kill the engine" and turn the fuel selector valve to the "off" position. The aircraft landed on the right main landing gear and nose gear in the center of the runway just beyond the threshold line. The flight instructor attempted to hold the left wing off the ground as long as possible during the landing roll; however, as the airspeed bled off, the left wing impacted the runway surface. The airplane "skidded" and then veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest up in the upright position in a ravine adjacent to the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the owner of the airplane had recently purchased the airplane from an operator in Benton, Kansas, and pilot hired a flight instructor to provide him with flight training in order to obtain a complex airplane endorsement. Examination of the airplane revealed that the main spar for the left wing was damaged, as well as the attaching structure for left main landing gear assembly. The closest weather reported station to the accident site was the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at the Ponca City Regional Airport (PNC), located approximately 12 nautical miles east of the accident location. At 1253, PNC reported wind from 180 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear, temperature 93 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4634J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4634J-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 28R-30522, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30522 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: John W. Holden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PNC, Ponca City, OK - Destination: 4O3, Blackwell, OK - Airport: 4O3, Blackwell-Tonkawa Municipal, runway 17, 3,500 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 5, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 2,484 total, 388 in this make and model, 2,404 as pilot in command, 184 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 3 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PNC, 12 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 20040713021999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040713021999A), Jul 13, 2004: Piper PA28R180, Blackwell, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) The owner, john holden recently purchased aircraft N4634J, a Piper PA-28R180. On 07-13-2004 Mr. Holden was receiving dual flight instruction from a CFI,… ## Other investigations on N4634J (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 LAX84LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA356), Jun 18, 1984: Piper PA-28R-180 (N4634J), Fair Oaks, CA, substantial damage 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.