# NTSB LAX02LA103: Piper PA-28R-180, N800RC, Coalinga, CA, March 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2002, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Coalinga, CA - Coordinates: 36.233333, -120.240554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2333&lon=-120.2406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54313/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54313 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA103 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. The crosswind was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - crop - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The landing gear collapsed after the airplane veered off the runway and into a plowed field during an aborted landing attempt. The pilot was landing with a left rudder correction for the existing crosswind. On initial touchdown, the airplane swerved off the left side of the runway. He added full power, and initiated an aborted landing. The pilot realized he would not be able to takeoff, closed the throttle, and went into a broccoli field. The encounter with the soft furrowed field collapsed the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2002, at 1130 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N800RC, veered off runway 14 during an attempted aborted landing, and came to rest in a broccoli field at the Harris Ranch Airport (3O8), Coalinga, California. The airplane, rented from Memley Aviation, Inc., by the pilot and operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed from the Fresno-Chandler Downtown Airport, Fresno, California, about 1100. No flight plan had been filed. Through a written statement, the pilot said that he lost control during landing. The pilot had left rudder applied for the right sideslip he had initiated for landing in the crosswind conditions. As the airplane touched down, it veered left off of the runway. The pilot then attempted an immediate takeoff on the "side of the runway;" however, he realized he would not be able to takeoff and closed the throttle. He then fast taxied into row crops and the landing gear "folded." ## Aircraft - Registration: N800RC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30299 - Airframe hours: 4950 - Engines: Lycoming I0-36D-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Memley Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2002, 12 hours before - Departed: FCH, FRESNO, CA - Destination: 3O8, COALINGA, CA - Airport: 308, Harris Ranch Airport, runway 14, 2,820 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 14, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 396 total, 7 in this make and model, 368 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: NLC, 15 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 20020307003319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020307003319A), Mar 7, 2002: Piper PA28R180, Coalinga, CA, No damage. (.19) On March 7, 2002, at 1145 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N800RC, departed runway 14 after an attempted go-around, and came to rest in a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54313. 342 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392699&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.