# NTSB GAA15CA276: Piper PA 28, N8258S, Van Nuys, CA, September 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2015, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Van Nuys, CA - Coordinates: 34.20972, -118.489997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2097&lon=-118.4900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92069/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92069 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA276 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for turbulence during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and 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-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high temperature](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during the landing, as he began to flare, the airplane was, "hit with the first blast of wake turbulence", from a helicopter that was hovering on the helipad to the left of the runway. The airplane landed hard, exited the runway to the right, and collided with a runway sign. According to the meteorological terminal aviation routine weather report (METAR) at the airport, the temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was variable at 4 knots. The helicopter pad was located over 400 feet to the east of the location that the pilot reported encountering the blast of wake turbulence. Due to the distance of the helicopter pad from the event location, the ambient temperature, and lack of significant wind, it is likely the student pilot encountered thermal related turbulence on short final. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during the landing, as he began to flare, the airplane was, "hit with the first blast of wake turbulence", from a helicopter that was hovering on the helipad to the left of the runway. The airplane landed hard, exited the runway to the right, and collided with a runway sign. According to the Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at the airport, the temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was variable at 4 knots. The helicopter pad was located over 400 feet to the east of the location that the pilot reported encountering the blast of wake turbulence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8258S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8258S-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 28-8116024, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8116024 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 11916 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skyward Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Skyward Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 4, 2015 - Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA - Destination: VNY, Van Nuys, CA - Airport: VNY, Van Nuys, runway 16L, 4,013 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 116.5 total, 106.4 in this make and model, 22.3 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 13.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: VNY ## 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 20150924018839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150924018839A), Sep 24, 2015: Piper PA-28-161, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Multiple hard contacts with runway caused right main landing gear and nose gear to break off aircraft resulting in multiple damage points including both fuel… ## Other investigations on N8258S (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 LAX99LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA032), Nov 10, 1998: Piper PA-28-161 (N8258S), Santa Barbara, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during landing flare. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92069. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Airport Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 780 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436456&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.