# NTSB GAA17CA096: Piper PA28, N7646W, Madisonville, TN, December 15, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 15, 2016, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Madisonville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.545276, -84.380279 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5453&lon=-84.3803&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 March 13, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94519/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94519
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA096

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a gusting crosswind.

## Findings

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

- [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)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: 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: 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, during landing after a cross-country solo flight, as the main landing gear touched down, the airplane encountered a crosswind, and he lost control of the airplane. He further reported that the airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest in the tree(s). The student pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. There was no local historic weather observation facility within 25 nautical miles of the accident airport, but the student pilot reported the wind direction was variable at 5 knots gusting to 10 knots. The student pilot landed runway 5.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during landing after a cross-country solo flight, as the main landing gear touched down the airplane encountered a crosswind and he lost control of the airplane. He further reported that the airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest in the tree(s). The student pilot reported there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. There was no local historic weather observation facility within 25 nautical miles of the accident airport, but the student pilot reported the wind direction variable, at 5 nautical miles per hour (knots), gusting 10 knots. The student pilot landed runway 5.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7646W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7646W-2017-10-16), registration cancelled 2017-10-16, S/N 28-1621, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-1621
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 3884
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2016
- Departed: SRB, SPARTA, TN
- Destination: MNV, Madisonville, TN
- Airport: MNV, Monroe County, runway 05, 3,643 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: KTYS, 25 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 20161215023789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161215023789A), Dec 15, 2016: Piper PA-28-180, Madisonville, TN, Substantial damage. During landing on runway 5, right wing impacted runway, veered right at a 45 degree angle, and impacted airport perimeter tree line. Student pilot (GX-1818348)…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 7, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94519. 764 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%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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