# NTSB FTW94LA305: Piper PA-32-301, N8398J, Nacogdoches, TX, September 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1994, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Nacogdoches, TX - Location: 31.5778° N, 94.7101° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NACOGDOCHES A L MANGHAM JR RGNL (OCH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5778&lon=-94.7101&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 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19166 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19166/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA305 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. A FACTOR WAS THE VARIABLE 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 - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis DURING LANDING ROLLOUT, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR LEFT THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE RETURNED TO THE RUNWAY, VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND EXITED THE RUNWAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED A DITCH AND SLID TO A STOP ON THE TAXIWAY. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WINDS VARIED FROM CALM TO A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND IN EXCESS OF 20 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1994, at 1215 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 32-301, N8398J, was substantially damaged during landing at Nacogdoches, Texas. The private pilot and his commercial pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR 91 business flight. The pilot provided the following information to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. During the landing roll on runway 36, airplane directional control was lost due to gusting crosswinds. The left main landing gear left the runway and went 3 to 4 feet into the grass. The nosewheel stayed on the runway. The airplane then returned to the runway, crossed the runway, and exited the runway on the right side. The airplane impacted a ditch and came to rest on the taxiway. The pilot stated that the wind varied in direction from 360 through 090 degrees and velocity from 0 to greater than 20 knots. An inspection of the aircraft revealed that the nose gear collapsed and the left main landing gear separated. Structural damage also occurred to the firewall and the left wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8398J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8398J), registered now, S/N 32-8106073, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8106073 - Airframe hours: 2685 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Crouse, William H. Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 1993, 220 hours before - Departed: LFT, LAFAYETTE, LA - Destination: OCH, TX - Airport: OCH, A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional, runway 36, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 152 total, 84 in this make and model, 74 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OCH ## 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 19940919029179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940919029179A), Sep 19, 1994: Piper PA32301, Nacogdoches, TX, Substantial damage. Veered off runway landing. Overcorrected veered off other side. Hit ditch, separated main gear. Crosswind a factor. 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.