# NTSB GAA19CA383: Piper PA28, N5697V, Milton, FL, June 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2019, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Milton, FL - Coordinates: 30.6375, -86.993614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6375&lon=-86.9936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99763/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99763 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA383 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's intentional overapplication of rudder to avoid a ditch during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and landing gear collapse. ## 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 · Capability exceeded (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) - [Empennage structure: rudder](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while returning to the departure airport after an instructional flight, she noticed that the weather was deteriorating and decided that she would perform the landing. She added that she felt wind shear during the approach, and she flew the airplane about 5 to 10 knots faster than normal. During the landing, she "felt a strong push from behind that accelerated the [air]plane tremendously." She applied full brakes, but the airplane continued moving forward and exited the end of the runway. Concerned the airplane would impact a deep ditch, the instructor turned the airplane left. The airplane came to rest in grass, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, while returning to the departure airport after an instruction flight, she noticed that the weather was deteriorating and decided that she would perform the landing. She added that she felt windshear during the approach and she flew the airplane about 5 to 10 knots faster than normal. During the landing, she "felt a strong push from behind that accelerated the plane tremendously." She applied full brakes, the airplane continued moving forward, approaching and leaving the end of the runway. Concerned the airplane would impact a deep ditch, the flight instructor turned the airplane to the left, collapsing the right main landing gear and coming to rest on the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, located 4 miles north, reported that, about 11 minutes after the accident, the wind was calm with light thunderstorm rain. The airplane was landing on runway 18. Additionally, at 45 past the hour, thunderstorms and cumulonimbus clouds were reported in the area with peak wind gusts from 240° at 29 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5697V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5697V), registered now, S/N 28-7716203 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7716203 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4170.35 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Trident Aircraft - Registered owner: Peter Prince Aviation Center Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Unknown, May 1, 2019 - Departed: 2R4, Milton, FL - Destination: 2R4, Milton, FL - Airport: 2R4, Peter Prince Field, runway 18, 3,701 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 620 total, 500 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KNDZ, 4 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 20190625007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190625007979A), Jun 25, 2019: Piper PA-28-161, Milton, FL, Substantial damage. CFI with student and rear seat student observer departed airport to south practice area for an hour. When returning to airport they noticed an approaching… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99763. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475554&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.