# NTSB LAX00LA219: Piper PA-28-161, N115ND, Mesa, AZ, June 9, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2000, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.3306, -111.630691 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3306&lon=-111.6307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49405/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA219 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control in that he failed to properly position the ailerons during his landing roll. Gusty, crosswind conditions, from a direction and velocity that equaled the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind capability, were a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing stop-and-go landings. On the first landing the airplane veered to the right side of the runway, and struck a distance remaining sign. After the collision, the airplane taxied to the ramp without further incident. The 1050 ATIS reported winds were from 180 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. Witnesses at the accident site reported that the winds were variable in direction with gusty conditions. The demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane is 17 knots. According to the chart, the effective crosswind at the time of the accident was 17 knots. The student had received dual instruction in the performance of crosswind landings. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2000, at 1045 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N115ND, struck a distance remaining marker sign on the landing rollout at the Williams Gateway Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The airplane, owned and operated by the University of North Dakota under 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight, sustained substantial damage. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local training flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 0900 from the accident airport and was scheduled to terminate at the time of the accident. The student pilot, on a supervised solo flight, had returned from the practice area to practice stop-and-go landings on runway 12R. On the first landing the airplane veered to the right side of the runway, and struck a distance remaining sign with the right wing. After the collision, the airplane taxied to the ramp without further incident. The Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS) broadcast located on the field reported at 0947 the winds to be 120 degrees at 6 knots. At 1050, the winds were reported to be from 180 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 20 knots. Witnesses at the accident site reported that the winds were variable in direction with gusty conditions. According to the pilot's operating handbook (POH), the demonstrated crosswind capability for this airplane is 17 knots. According to the chart, the effective crosswind component at the time of the accident was 17 knots. The student had received the prescribed dual instruction in the performance of crosswind landings according to his training records. ## Aircraft - Registration: N115ND (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841035 - Airframe hours: 9278 - Engines: Lycoming O-230-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Und Aerospace Flight Tranning - Registered owner: University Of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 11, 2000, 53 hours before - Departed: IWA - Airport: IWA, Williams Gateway, runway 12R, 10,401 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 187 °F, dew point 115 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IWA ## 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 20000609014369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000609014369A), Jun 9, 2000: Piper PA28161, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing rollout pilot departed runway after encountering localized wind gust. After departing the runway the a/c struck a runway distance marker… 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.