# NTSB LAX08CA076: Piper PA-28-181, N416PA, Phoenix, AZ, March 15, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 15, 2008, 12:57 local (19:57 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.688331, -112.082496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67686 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67686/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot positioned the airplane's wing flaps to the 40-degree position and crabbed the airplane into the left crosswind, which averaged 220 degrees at 11 knots. Four minutes before the accident, the airport's local wind direction was reported as variable at 4 knots with 19-knot gusts. The student pilot landed on runway 25R, and as the airplane decelerated, the pilot attempted to exit the runway at a rate of speed that was too fast to negotiate the turnoff. The pilot lost directional control as the airplane swerved left and collided with several airport signs. Thereafter, the landing gear collapsed. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during final approach he positioned the airplane's wing flaps to the 40-degree position, and he crabbed the airplane into the left crosswind, which was from 220 degrees at 11 knots according to the airport's automatic terminal information service report. At 1253 (4 minutes before the accident), the airport's local wind direction was reported as variable, and its speed was 4 knots with 19-knot gusts. The student pilot indicated that the airplane touched down on runway 25R for the full stop landing. As he was decelerating and attempting to turn off the runway, the airplane's nose turned left, and he lost directional control. The student also reported that he attempted to correct the airplane's track by applying aileron and rudder control inputs, but the airplane rolled off the left side of the runway subsequently colliding with several airport signs before the landing gear collapsed. According to the student's certified flight instructor, the student was taxiing at too high a speed to negotiate the exit turn off the runway. The student should have slowed down before exiting the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N416PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N416PA), registered now, S/N 2843438, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843438 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pan Am International Flight Academy - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: E25, Wickenberg, AZ - Destination: DVT, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 25R, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: DVT ## 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 20080315013169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080315013169A), Mar 15, 2008: Piper PA28181, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The solo student pilot landed on runway 25R at kdvt. He attempted to vacate the runway at too high a speed and lost control of the aircraft. He hit the… ## Other investigations on N416PA (1) 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 GAA16CA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA237), May 12, 2016: Piper PA28 (N416PA), Wickenburg, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to monitor the parked vehicle, which resulted in a ground collision and substantial damage to the left wing. 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.