# NTSB LAX99LA032: Piper PA-28-161, N8258S, Santa Barbara, CA, November 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 10, 1998, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Barbara, CA - Coordinates: 34.426695, -119.83979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4267&lon=-119.8398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45295/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The aircraft collided with a runway marker sign during landing while the student pilot was on his first solo cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, while flaring for landing, he encountered a 'strong' crosswind from the right and that he landed with the aircraft angled toward the left side of the 75-foot-wide runway. He tried to correct his path back toward the runway centerline but struck a runway perimeter sign on the left edge of the runway with the left main landing gear. Thirty-five minutes before the accident, a quartering right headwind was reported at 6 knots and 25 minutes after the accident a quartering right headwind was reported at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 1998, at 1430 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8258S, was substantially damaged when it veered off runway 15L and collided with a runway marker during landing at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara, California. The student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated by Skyward Aviation under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo cross-country instructional flight. The pilot reported that, while flaring for landing, he encountered a "strong" crosswind from the right and that he landed with the aircraft angled toward the left side of the 75-foot-wide runway. The pilot tried to correct his path back toward the runway centerline but struck a runway perimeter sign on the left edge of the runway with the left main landing gear. At 1353, the Santa Barbara surface wind was reported from 200 degrees at 6 knots and at 1453 was reported from 220 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8258S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8258S-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 28-8116024, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8116024 - Airframe hours: 5700 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Grant Stuart Cook - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 1998, 75 hours before - Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA - Destination: SBA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara Municipal, runway 15L, 4,179 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 43 total, 42 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SBA ## 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 19981110034859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981110034859A), Nov 10, 1998: Piper PA28161, Santa Barbara, CA, Substantial damage. On November 10, 1998, at 1400 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8258S, was substantially damaged when it veered off runway 15L and collided with… ## Other investigations on N8258S (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 GAA15CA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA276), Sep 24, 2015: Piper PA 28 (N8258S), Van Nuys, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for turbulence during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and runway excursion. 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.