# NTSB GAA19CA520: Piper PA32RT, N31934, Mackinac Island, MI, September 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 2, 2019, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Mackinac Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.865001, -84.637222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8650&lon=-84.6372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA520 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100186/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100186 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA520 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway light. ## 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-32RT-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103215), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7103215), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103215), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane encountered a sudden crosswind and drifted left. The airplane bounced on touchdown and then veered left, exited the runway, impacted a runway light, traveled through a ditch, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 360° at 11 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 26. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane encountered a sudden crosswind and drifted left. The airplane bounced on touchdown and veered left, exited the runway, impacted a runway light, traveled through a ditch, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 360° at 11 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 26. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31934](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31934-2020-08-18), registration cancelled 2020-08-18, S/N 32R-7885143, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32RT (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7885143 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 7248.1 - Engines: Lycoming 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: West Michigan Flying Club - Registered owner: West Michigan Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2019 - Departed: MKG, Muskegon, MI - Destination: MCD, Mackinac Island, MI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MCD, Mackinac Island, runway 26, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2018; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 147.5 total, 18 in this make and model, 78.3 as pilot in command, 2.2 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KMCD ## 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 20190902016469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190902016469A), Sep 2, 2019: Piper PA-32RT-300, Mackinac Island, MI, Substantial damage. On September 2, 2019 at approximately 12:05 pm eastern daylight time (EDT), N31934, a PA-32RT-300 aircraft, registered to a flying club and operated by a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100186. 843 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 615 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Email Correspondence (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20Correspondence%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Damage Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%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.