# NTSB LAX08CA157: Piper PA-34, N103JH, Blythe, CA, May 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2008, 13:47 local (20:47 UTC) - Place: Blythe, CA - Coordinates: 33.618057, -114.716667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6181&lon=-114.7167&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68122/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-34-200T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/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-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot made a normal approach to runway 26 and touched down at 95 miles per hour (mph). After decelerating to 70 mph, the airplane began drifting to the left. The pilot corrected the airplane back towards the centerline. The airplane crossed the centerline and continued to the right. He tried to correct the airplane back to the left, and it entered an out-of-control side skid on the runway. At 15 mph, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left main and nose gear. Winds at the time of the accident were from 090 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the pilot reported that he made a normal approach to runway 26 and touched down at 95 miles per hour (mph). After decelerating to 70 mph, the airplane unexpectedly began drifting to the left. The pilot corrected the airplane to the right towards the centerline. The airplane crossed the centerline and continued to the right. He stated that the airplane's movement was not in proportion to his control inputs. He tried to correct the airplane back to the left, and it entered an out-of-control side skid on the runway. At 15 mph, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left main and nose gear. The airplane stopped on a heading of 104 degrees, left of the runway centerline. At 1353, the Blyth ASOS (Automated Surface Observation System) recorded winds from 090 at 4 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N103JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N103JH-2009-08-06), registration cancelled 2009-08-06, S/N 34-7570087, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360-E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-e) (registry code 17287, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7570087 - Airframe hours: 8697 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating; Continental LTSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Utah State University - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008 - Departed: BLH, Blythe, CA - Destination: BLH, Blythe, CA - Airport: BLH, Blythe, runway 26, 6,543 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review August 1, 2007; flight hours: 686 total, 28 in this make and model, 95 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: BLH ## 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 20080510837929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080510837929A), May 10, 2008: Piper PA34200T, Blytheville, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft gear collapsed after pilot lost control of aircraft on landing. The aircraft landed long: touched down on the FAR left hand side of the… 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.