FTW95LA333

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-180 · Englewood, CO · August 6, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 6, 1995, 14:44 local (20:44 UTC)
Place
Englewood, CO
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7980WPiper PA-28-180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 29, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950806049489A
Case key
19529

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. A factor related to the accident was: the crosswind condition.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
Nose gear collapsedLanding - roll
Landing gear,nose gear - overload

Analysis

The pilot reported that he made a full flap landing on runway 35L in a crosswind from 310 degrees at 8 to 10 knots. When the airplane touched down, it veered to the right. When he tried to correct for the diversion, the airplane veered hard to the left. He said he attempted to correct this diversion, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane exited the side of the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot later told the operator he had experienced brake problems; however, no brake discrepancies were found by the operator. The operator examined the runway and found marks consistent with the nose wheel not being aligned with the direction of travel.

Factual narrative

On August 6, 1995, at 1444 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N7980W, was substantially damaged during landing at Englewood, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Fort Collins, Colorado, approximately 1330.

The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Report. The pilot made a full flap landing in crosswind conditions. When the airplane touched down on runway 35L, it veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the diversion and the airplane veered hard to the left. He attempted to correct this diversion, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane exited the side of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the wing was damaged. The pilot reported the winds were from 310 degrees at 8 to 10 knots.

The pilot later told the operator that he had experienced brake problems; no brake discrepancies were found by the operator. One witness reported seeing the airplane porpoise before departing the runway. The operator reported he examined skid marks left on the runway and saw no evidence of porpoising. His examination did disclose marks consistent with the nose wheel not being aligned with the direction of travel.

Aircraft

Registration
N7980W
Reported as
Piper PA-28-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-2034
Airframe hours
7,215
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Altitudes, Inc.
Registered owner
Frank & Dorothy Matthews
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 1995 · 10 hours before
Departed
3V5 · Fort Collins, CO
Destination
APA
Airport
APA · Centennial, runway 35L, 7,003 × 77 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
85 total · 81 in this make and model · 19 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 9 knots
Visibility
50 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F, dew point 37 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
APA

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.