# NTSB GAA15CA050: Piper PA 28-180, N7374W, Deer Lodge, MT, April 17, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 17, 2015, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Deer Lodge, MT
- Coordinates: 46.383056, -112.760276 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3831&lon=-112.7603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91081/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91081
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA050

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing flare he began to porpoise, on the second porpoise he encountered what he believed was a crosswind. He added full power to abort the landing, and subsequently the airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in the right landing gear and nose wheel being separated from the airplane and substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing flare he began to porpoise, on the second porpoise he encountered what he believed was a crosswind. He added full power to abort the landing, and subsequently the airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in the right landing gear and nose wheel being separated from the airplane and substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7374W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7374W-2018-03-20), registration cancelled 2018-03-20, S/N 28-1256, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-180 (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: 28-1256
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 2459
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Novak James F
- Registered owner: Novak James F
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2014
- Departed: 3U3, ANACONDA, MT
- Destination: 38S, DEER LODGE, MT
- Airport: 38S, Deer Lodge-City-County, runway 31, 5,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 400 total, 270 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KBTM, 27 nm away

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91081. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 777 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Airplane Front (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20Front%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Left Wing Leading Edge (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20Wing%20Leading%20Edge%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Underside of Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Underside%20of%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.

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