# NTSB GAA19CA084: Piper PA28, N5668W, Casa Grande, AZ, November 28, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 27, 2018, 18:30 local (Nov 28, 2018, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Casa Grande, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.955001, -111.766944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9550&lon=-111.7669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98723/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98723
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA084

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during the approach, which resulted in impact with a fence and terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, while on final approach at night, he slowed the airplane to about 87 knots and extended 20º of flaps. He then realized the airplane's altitude was low, so he initiated a go-around, but the right main landing gear struck a fence, and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, while on final approach at night, he slowed the airplane to about 87 knots and extended 20º of flaps. He then realized his altitude was low, so he initiated a go-around, but the right main landing gear struck a fence and the airplane impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5668W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5668W-2019-05-22), registration cancelled 2019-05-22, S/N 28-847 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (180)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-847
- Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CGZ, Casa Grande, AZ
- Destination: CGZ, Casa Grande, AZ
- Airport: CGZ, Casa Grande Muni, runway 05, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 170 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KCGZ

## 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 20181127022949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181127022949A), Nov 27, 2018: Piper PA-28-180, Casa Grande, AZ, Substantial damage. On November 27, 2018 at 18:52 local time, at Casa Grande airport (cgz) in Casa Grande Arizona, aircraft N5668W crashed into the perimeter fence, short of the…

## Other investigations on N5668W (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN69D0042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0042), Jul 5, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N5668W), Jackson, WY, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98723. 952 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.