# NTSB GAA15CA263: Piper PA 28R-200, N1125X, Doylestown, PA, September 7, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2015, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Doylestown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.333332, -75.121948 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3333&lon=-75.1219&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Allentown FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91993/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91993
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA263

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to land with sufficient runway remaining to safely stop the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue during the flight.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: taxiway lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017020): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017020/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017020/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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing, she "landed at the last 1000' of available runway and attempted to stop the aircraft using toe brakes and aerodynamic braking, but this was insufficient." The airplane departed the runway into the grass and the right wing struck a taxiway light. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also stated, "I feel this accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around and trying a lower approach as opposed to trying to save the landing. I attribute this lack of judgment to fatigue." 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, she "landed at the last 1000' of available runway and attempted to stop the aircraft using toe brakes and aerodynamic braking, but this was insufficient." The airplane departed the runway into the grass and the right wing struck a taxiway light. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also stated, "I feel this accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around and trying a lower approach as opposed to trying to save the landing. I attribute this lack of judgment to fatigue." 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: [N1125X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1125X), registered now, S/N 28R-7535251, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28R-200 (200)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7535251
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 8316
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Leading Edge Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Leading Edge Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 2015
- Departed: XLL, ALLENTOWN, PA
- Destination: DYL, Doylestown, PA
- Airport: DYL, Doylestown, runway 05, 3,002 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 336 total, 23 in this make and model, 214 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KDYL

## 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 20150907014439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150907014439A), Sep 7, 2015: Piper PA-28R-200, Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. On September 7, 2015 ^ariel connolly-smith^ was flying N1125X, a PA-28R-200 from queen city, allentown (xll) to the Doylestown,PA airport (dyl) following her…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91993. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 509 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20-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.