# NTSB GAA18CA516: Piper PA28, N7635F, Point Lookout, MO, August 25, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2018, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Point Lookout, MO - Coordinates: 36.625831, -93.228889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6258&lon=-93.2289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA516 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98181/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98181 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA516 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadvertent left brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with runway lights. ## 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-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during the landing roll, he inadvertently applied the left toe brake while attempting to apply left rudder. The airplane veered left, and he attempted to regain directional control, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lighting before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during the landing roll, he inadvertently applied the left toe brake while attempting to apply left rudder. The airplane veered to the left and he attempted to regain directional control, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lighting before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7635F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7635F-2020-03-27), registration cancelled 2020-03-27, S/N 28-7790197, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7790197 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 2838 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 2018 - Departed: PLK, Point Lookout, MO - Destination: PLK, Point Lookout, MO - Airport: PLK, M Graham Clark Downtown, runway 30, 3,738 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 28.7 total, 28.7 in this make and model, 3.7 as pilot in command, 23.3 in the last 90 days, 7.8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KBBG, 6 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 20180825012309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180825012309A), Aug 25, 2018: Piper PA-28-181, Branson, MO, Substantial damage. The student pilot was practicing full stop solo landings on runway 30 at plk. Upon rollout from landing, the pilot stated the aircraft suddenly veered left off… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98181. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 842 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 537 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.