# NTSB FTW95LA333: Piper PA-28-180, N7980W, Englewood, CO, August 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1995, 14:44 local (20:44 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.579414, -104.859169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5794&lon=-104.8592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19529/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA333 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7980W), registered now, S/N 28-2034, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2034 - Airframe hours: 7215 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950806049489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950806049489A), Aug 6, 1995: Piper PA28180, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) The statement from the pilot (paul adessa) claimed he was making a normal landing into centennial airport, Englewood, CO. On runway 35L. He identified… 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.