# NTSB LAX02LA141: Piper PA24-250, N7401P, Prescott, AZ, April 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2002, 18:35 local (Apr 22, 2002, 01:35 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.657501, -112.421669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6575&lon=-112.4217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54562 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54562/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54562 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - taxiway light - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway during the landing roll-out, collided with obstacles, and collapsed the landing gear. On touchdown, the airplane began drifting to the right. The pilot applied left rudder but couldn't correct the right drift prior to the airplane leaving the pavement on the right side. The airplane impacted a runway light, then the right wing hit a small wooden building, which collapsed the nose gear and tore the right main gear out of the right wing structure. The pilot lost his medical certificate in 1972, and got it back in August 2001, and had flown about 15 since hours since that time. There were no mechanical malfunctions noted with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2002, at 1835 mountain standard time, a Piper PA24-250, N7401P, veered off runway 21R during the landing roll and collapsed the landing gear in a collision with several obstacles at the Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC), Prescott, Arizona. The owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed PRC about 1730. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed. The pilot was interviewed by telephone on April 22, 2002. He stated that he took off about 1730 and did three touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 31R, then departed the pattern. After climbing to 8,500 feet, he did some air work, and then returned to the airport. The tower cleared him for a right base to runway 21R. He said that this runway was narrower than the others at the airport that he was used to (runway 21R is 60 feet wide, while the others are 150 feet wide). On touchdown, the airplane began drifting to the right. He applied left rudder but couldn't correct the right drift prior to the airplane leaving the pavement on the right side. The airplane impacted a runway light, then the right wing hit a small wooden building, which collapsed the nose gear and tore the right main gear out of the right wing structure. The pilot noted, although he was a former airline pilot, he lost his medical certificate in 1972 due to medical problems, and got it back in August 2001. The pilot flew about 15 hours since then, and had recently purchased the airplane. During a telephone interview with the National Transporation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the insurance representative stated that the airplane had been inspected and it was determined that there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7401P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7401P-2003-10-01), registration cancelled 2003-10-01, S/N 24-2586, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2586 - Airframe hours: 4866.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-540A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lofton D. Crow - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2002, 7.26 hours before - Departed: KPRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: KPRC, Prescott, AZ - Airport: PRC, Ernest A. Love Field, runway 21R, 4,846 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 3, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 17,237 total, 22 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KPRC ## 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 20020421008229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020421008229A), Apr 21, 2002: Piper PA24250, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On April 21, 2002, at 1900 mountain standard time, a Piper PA24-250, N7401P, veered off runway 21R during the landing roll and collapsed the landing gear… ## Other investigations on N7401P (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW78DA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DA082), Sep 15, 1978: Piper PA-24 (N7401P), Muleshoe, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW66D0530](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66D0530), Feb 5, 1966: Piper PA-24 (N7401P), Laredo, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54562. 398 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record Of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40184946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20Of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record Of Conversation - Insurance Representative (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40184947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20Of%20Conversation%20-%20Insurance%20Representative-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.