LAX00LA094

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-161 · Honolulu, HI · February 6, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 5, 2000, 16:20 local (Feb 6, 2000, 02:20 UTC)
Place
Honolulu, HI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N140NDPiper PA-28-161
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 14, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000205005059A
Case key
48585

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper use of the brakes during the landing rollout. The pilot's self induced pressure and the quartering tailwind were factors in the accident.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Self-induced pressurePilot in commandFactor
Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - airport sign/marker

Analysis

At the time of the pilot's approach and landing on runway 4L the winds were from 170 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported that the local controller instructed her to make a short approach for following traffic. She said that while the landing was long and she felt "rushed by the short approach request," the touchdown and initial landing ground roll was normal. Near the intersection of taxiway E as she began applying brakes, the airplane suddenly turned right and ran off the side of the runway. The pilot reported that she was afraid to apply left brake because the airplane "might tip over." As the airplane left the pavement, the left wing hit runway signs. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the operator's maintenance department found no discrepancies during the repair process.

Factual narrative

On February 5, 2000, at 1620 hours Hawaiian standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N140ND, drifted off runway 4L and collided with runway signs while landing at the Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. The aircraft was owned and operated by the University of North Dakota, and was on a student solo cross-country instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Honolulu on the morning of the accident as a round robin cross-country flight with en route stops at Molokai and Lanai, Hawaii.

At the time of the pilot's approach and landing the winds were from 170 degrees at 8 knots.

The pilot reported that the local controller instructed her to make a short approach for following traffic. She said that while the landing was long and she felt "rushed by the short approach request," the touchdown and initial landing ground roll was normal. Near the intersection of taxiway E as she began applying brakes, the airplane suddenly turned right and ran off the side of the runway. The pilot reported that she was afraid to apply left brake because the airplane "might tip over." As the airplane left the pavement, the left wing hit runway signs. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the operator's maintenance department found no discrepancies during the repair process.

Aircraft

Registration
N140ND
Reported as
Piper PA-28-161
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-41206
Airframe hours
8,176
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
University Of North Dakota
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · January 25, 2000 · 56 hours before
Departed
LNY · Lanai, HI
Destination
HNL
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
HNL · Honolulu International, runway 4L, 6,952 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
19
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
64 total · 64 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
165 °F, dew point 153 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
HNL

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N140ND · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.