# NTSB MIA01LA234: Piper PA-28-151, N5447F, Melbourne, FL, September 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2001, 13:02 local (17:02 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Coordinates: 28.080326, -80.599617 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0803&lon=-80.5996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53539/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA234 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground swerve, and the aircraft exiting the runway and incurring substantial damage when it collided with a ditch. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the landing rollout a gust of wind blew him off to the right. The pilot further stated that he attempted to go around by applying power, but the aircraft exited onto the grass, hit a ditch, rolled into the Palmetto shrubs, and collided with a 4-inch diameter pine, incurring substantial damage. According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2001, about 1302 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-151, N5447F, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, lost control during the landing rollout at Melbourne, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and two passengers received no injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at Vero Beach, Florida, the same day, about 1215. The pilot stated that he was landing on runway 09L at Melbourne, Florida, and during the landing rollout a gust of wind from 360 degrees blew him off the runway from left to right. The pilot further stated that he was unable to immediately correct, so he attempted to go-around by applying power, but the aircraft exited onto the grass, hit a ditch, rolled into the Palmetto shrubs, and collided with a 4-inch diameter pine. The pilot said that as a result, some of the damage to the aircraft included damage to both sides of the fuselage forward of the tail, as well as damage to the propeller, the left stabilizer, the left wing tip, and the landing gear. According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5447F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5447F), registered now, S/N 28-7715140, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-77151140 - Airframe hours: 2700 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard E. Wiederhold - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2000 - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Destination: MLB, Melbourne, FL - Airport: MLB, Melbourne International, runway 09L, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 12, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 184 total, 95 in this make and model, 152 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 50° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: MLB ## 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 20010930029269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010930029269A), Sep 30, 2001: Piper PA28151, Melbourne, FL, No damage. (-23) On September 30, 2001, at 1700 hours gmt, a Piper, PA-28-151, N5447F, crashed after landing on runway 9L at the Melbourne airport in Melbourne, Florida.… 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.