# NTSB GAA15CA079: Piper PA 28-140, N16491, Princeton, NJ, May 16, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2015, 14:56 local (18:56 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.399166, -74.665557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3992&lon=-74.6656&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Allentown FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91200
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91200/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91200
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA079

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, resulting in a runway excursion.

## 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-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing, the back wheels of the airplane touched the runway, he heard a pop, and he couldn't control the airplane. He reported that the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, the right wing and nose impacted a ditch, and subsequently sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mount. The pilot stated he assumes the right tire exploded during the landing. A front view photograph of the airplane at the accident site (provided by the Federal Aviation Administration), showed the airplane came to rest off the right side of the runway, and that the right main landing gear tire was intact and inflated. The pilot verified that 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, the back wheels of the airplane touched the runway, he heard a pop, and he couldn't control the airplane. He reported that the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, the right wing and nose impacted a ditch, and subsequently sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mount. The pilot stated he assumes the right tire exploded during the landing. A front view photograph of the airplane at the accident site (provided by the Federal Aviation Administration), showed the airplane came to rest off the right side of the runway, and that the right main landing gear tire was intact and inflated. The pilot verified that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16491](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16491-2018-04-19), registration cancelled 2018-04-19, S/N 28-7325285, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-140 (140)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7325285
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 12100
- Engines: LYCOMING reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peterson David J
- Registered owner: Peterson David J
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2014
- Departed: 39N, Princeton, NJ
- Destination: 39N, Princeton, NJ
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 39N, Princeton, runway 28, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review August 4, 2013; flight hours: 2,406 total, 605 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KTTN, 10 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 20150516007079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150516007079A), May 16, 2015: Piper PA-28-140, Princeton, NJ, Substantial damage. On landing pilot bounced the aircraft and attempted a go around. He failed to gain altitude and struck the upslope side of a ditch 200 feet from the departure…

## Other investigations on N16491 (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 NYC88LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA052), Dec 3, 1987: Piper PA-28-140 (N16491), Pottstown, PA, substantial damage

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91200. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 693 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of right wing (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20right%20wing%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – View of left wing (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20left%20wing%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – View of engine mount (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20engine%20mount%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%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.

---
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.