GAA17CA123

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA 28R · Wichita, KS · January 24, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 24, 2017, 15:55 local (21:55 UTC)
Place
Wichita, KS
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4792TPiper PA 28R
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 7, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20170124007199A
Case key
94652

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

Findings · 6

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Aircraft capability: maximum crosswind componentAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededPiper PA-28R-200: 1 caseAll aircraft: 21 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-28R-200: 12 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotPiper PA-28R-200: 29 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: sign/markerEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipmentPiper PA-28R-200: 2 casesAll aircraft: 214 cases
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensatePiper PA-28R-200: 8 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensatePiper PA-28R-200: 5 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions, the airplane veered off the runway to the left into the grass. During the runway excursion, the right wing impacted an airport sign, which resulted in substantial damage. After the airplane had stopped, the pilot taxied to the ramp without further incident. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 2 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 310° at 22 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The airplane landed on runway 1R. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the accident airplane, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane is 20 miles per hour/17.3 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in a gusting crosswind, the airplane veered off the runway to the left into the grass. During the runway excursion, the right wing impacted an airport sign, which resulted in substantial damage. After the airplane had stopped, the pilot taxied to the ramp without further incident. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that, about 2 minutes before the accident the wind was 310° at 22 knots, wind gusts at 27 knots. The airplane landed on runway 1R. According to the pilot operating handbook for the accident airplane, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane is 20 miles per hour/17.3 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N4792T
Reported as
Piper PA 28R (200)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-7235109
Built
1972
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 30, 2016
Departed
ICT · Wichita, KS
Destination
ICT · Wichita, KS
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
ICT · Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Na, runway 01R, 10,301 × 150 ft, concrete
Equipment
Unknown

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
19
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 30, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
110 total · 35 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 22 knots, gusting 27
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.38 inHg
Observed at
KICT

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.