- Date
- April 15, 2018, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Pensacola, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8115YPiper PA 28-161
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180415003699A
- Case key
- 97061
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 loss of directional control and long landing in gusting wind conditions due to his shoe getting stuck on the brakes.
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
According to the pilot, he landed with a left crosswind with about the final third of the 3,200-ft-long runway remaining. He reported that his ground speed was too fast, and after his initial brake application, he increased brake pressure and his right shoe became "stuck between the right pedal and the toe brake." The airplane veered to the right and exited the right side of the runway, striking a runway light before it collided with a creek where it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. According to the METAR located 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 310° at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot landed on runway 36. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he landed with a left crosswind, and about the final 1/3 of the 3,200ft runway remaining. He reported that his ground speed was too fast and after his initial brake application, he increased brake pressure and his right shoe became "stuck between the right pedal and the toe brake." The airplane veered to the right and exited the right side of the runway, striking a runway light before it collided with a creek where it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the Recommendation section, the pilot asserted that the accident could have been prevented if he had aborted the landing earlier, or by diverting to an airport with more favorable wind conditions. According to the METAR located 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 310° at 12 knots and gusting to 19 knots. The pilot landed on runway 36. According to the Manufacturer's Pilot Operating Handbook, the performance landing chart states that the airplane required a minimum ground roll of 560ft. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8115Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA 28-161 (161)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8016123
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 14,259
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wrong Bros Aviator Training School LLC
- Registered owner
- Wrong Bros Aviator Training School LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 25, 2018
- Departed
- MOB · Mobile, AL
- Destination
- 82J · Pensacola, FL
- Airport
- 82J · Ferguson, runway 36, 3,200 × 200 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 15, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 92 total · 7 in this make and model · 36 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KNPA, 3 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 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.