- 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.
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.