# NTSB GAA15CA103: Piper PA 28-180, N56074, Steele, ND, May 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2015, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Steele, ND - Coordinates: 46.849559, -99.909027 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8496&lon=-99.9090&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91295/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91295 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a collision with objects while attempting to abort the landing. ## 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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 student pilot reported that after landing on his unpublished airstrip, he did not get the airplane slowed down on the wet grass surface. During the landing roll the airplane slid sideways, and the pilot aborted the landing. During the departure climb, the left wheel struck a fence resulting in a loss of control and the impact with a storage structure. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that after landing on his unpublished airstrip, he did not get the airplane slowed down on the wet grass surface. During the landing roll the airplane slid sideways, and the pilot aborted the landing. During the departure climb, the left wheel struck a fence resulting in a loss of control and the impact with a storage structure. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56074](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56074-2020-03-20), registration cancelled 2020-03-20, S/N 28-7305524, built 1973 (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: 28-7305524 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 2265.2 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dewitz Chase - Registered owner: Dewitz Chase - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2014, 1.2 hours before - Departed: Steele, ND - Destination: Steele, ND - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: BIS, 5 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91295. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - METAR KBIS (1730 CDT) (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20METAR%20KBIS%20(1730%20CDT)-Master.PDF - Photograph 1: Substantial damage to airplane left wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 892 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20airplane%20left%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph 2: Substantial damage to airplane left side horizontal stabilizer (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%202%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20airplane%20left%20side%20horizontal%20stabilizer%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph 3: Substantial damage to airplane right side horizontal stabilizer (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428892&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%203%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20airplane%20right%20side%20horizontal%20stabilizer%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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.