# NTSB GAA19CA104: Piper PA28, N282BG, Bowling Green, OH, January 6, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 6, 2019, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Bowling Green, OH - Coordinates: 41.391109, -83.630279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3911&lon=-83.6303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - NTSB case key (mKey): 98895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98895/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98895 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA104 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control upon touchdown, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch. ## 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-28-161, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while on short final, the airplane was high, so she reduced the power to idle to descend. As she pulled back on the control yoke for the landing flare, the main landing wheels touched down first, and the airplane suddenly veered left. She corrected with right rudder control and then applied the toe brakes, but the airplane continued to veer left, exited the runway onto grass, and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aft spar. 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 short final, the airplane was high, so she reduced the power to idle to lose altitude. As she pulled back on the control yoke for the landing flare, the main landing wheels touched down first and the airplane suddenly veered to the left. She corrected with right rudder control, followed by applying the toe brakes, but the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway onto the grass and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aft spar. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N282BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N282BG), registered now, S/N 2842418, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D3G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d3g) (registry code 42156, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2842418 - Year built: 2016 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bowling Green Flight Center LLC - Registered owner: Bowling Green Flight Center LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1G0, Bowling Green, OH - Destination: 1G0, Bowling Green, OH - Airport: 1G0, Wood County, runway 10, 4,199 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KTDZ, 12 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 20190106000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190106000129A), Jan 6, 2019: Piper PA-28-161, Bowling Green, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot stated she was high on approach, lowered nose and didn't realize speed at touchdown. Floated used wrong corrections to maintain directional control.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98895. 155 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.