GAA18CA204

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA28 · Vero Beach, FL · March 2, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
March 2, 2018, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
Place
Vero Beach, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N158NDPiper PA28
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 5, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180302001369A
Case key
97003

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 student pilot’s failure to maintain a stabilized approach, which resulted in overcorrection with the rudder during the landing, loss of control, and a runway excursion.

Findings · 5

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.

Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-28-161: 8 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-28-161: 27 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotPiper PA-28-161: 40 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: sign/markerEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipmentPiper PA-28-161: 5 casesAll aircraft: 214 cases
Object/animal/substance: sign/markerEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomePiper PA-28-161: 5 casesAll aircraft: 214 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 solo student pilot reported that, during approach, he was above the glideslope after adding full flaps, so he lowered the nose to lose altitude. He added that he "brought a little more speed than intended" into ground effect and the airplane yawed to the left. He overcorrected to the right. The airplane touched down to the right of the runway centerline with the nose pointed 45° to the left. The student attempted to maintain directional control, but the airplane exited the runway to the right and the right wing struck a runway sign. The student pilot taxied back onto the runway and to the parking ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The chief flight instructor of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 360° at 6 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 030° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airplane landed on runway 04.

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, he was above the glide slope after adding full flaps, so he lowered the nose to lose altitude. He added that he "brought a little more speed than intended" into ground effect and the airplane yawed to the left. He over corrected to the right. The airplane touched down to the right of the runway centerline with the nose pointed 45° to the left. The student attempted to maintain directional control, but the airplane exited the runway to the right and the right wing struck a runway sign. The student pilot taxied back onto the runway and to the parking ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The Chief Flight Instructor of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 360° at 6 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 030° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airplane landed on runway 04.

Aircraft

Registration
N158ND
Reported as
Piper PA28 (161)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2842030
Built
1998
Airframe hours
11,442
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Flight Safety International Inc
Registered owner
Flight Safety International Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · February 27, 2018
Departed
OBE · Okeechobee, FL
Destination
VRB · Vero Beach, FL
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
VRB · Vero Beach Rgnl, runway 04, 4,974 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator

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
Student pilot
Age
35
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
30 total · 30 in this make and model · 7 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
KVRB

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 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.