# NTSB LAX02LA057: Piper PA-28-140, N6742J, Show Low, AZ, December 20, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 2001, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Show Low, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.229999, -110.069648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2300&lon=-110.0696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53946
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53946/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA057

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control.  Contributing factors were a crosswind and wind gusts.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot departed for the local practice area and the winds were about 10 knots.  By the time he returned for landing, the wind velocity had increased to 20 knots from 150 degrees.  He experienced a strong wind gust as he was landing.  The left wing contacted the ground and the nose gear sheared off.  He was not aware that the nose wheel had sheared off; he tried to power up but couldn't due to the propeller damage.  The airplane departed the runway and came to rest.

## Factual narrative

On December 20, 2001, about 1000 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6742J, sustained a hard landing at Show Low, Arizona.  The owner was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The solo student pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The local instructional flight departed Show Low about 0900.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The student pilot stated he departed for the local practice area and the winds were about 10 knots.  By the time he returned for landing, the wind velocity had increased to 20 knots from 150 degrees.  He experienced a strong wind gust as he was landing.  The left wing contacted the ground and the nose gear sheared off.  He was not aware that the nose wheel had sheared off; he tried to power up but couldn't due to the propeller damage.  The airplane departed the runway and came to rest.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6742J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6742J), registered now, S/N 28-24827, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-24827
- Airframe hours: 3273
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: James M. Robbins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 9, 2001, 71 hours before
- Departed: SOW, SHOW LOW, AZ
- Airport: SOW, Show Low, runway 21, 3,937 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: SOW

## 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 20011220036379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011220036379A), Dec 20, 2001: Piper PA28140, Show Low, AZ, No damage. (-23) The student pilot was on a local solo flight at Show Low airport, Show Low, AZ. He was attempting to land on runway 21. He "caught a x-wind, tried to…

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.