# NTSB MIA95LA235: Piper PA-28-161, N607FT, Melbourne, FL, September 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1995, 13:48 local (17:48 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Coordinates: 28.079708, -80.600227 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0797&lon=-80.6002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37833/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA235 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND. ## 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 (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. DURING THE SECOND LANDING ON RUNWAY 9 THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED AS HE FLARED. THE AIRCRAFT ALSO DRIFTED TO THE LEFT DUE TO A CROSSWIND. THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY AND THEN RAN OFF THE RUNWAY. HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY SIGNS, SEPARATED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR, AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 130 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1995, about 1348 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N607FT, registered to Florida Institute of Technology, ran off the runway and collided with runway signs when directional control was lost during landing at Melbourne Regional Airport, Melbourne, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the student-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated moments before the accident. The student pilot stated that he and his instructor performed three touch-and-go landings on runway 27R at Melbourne. They were then switched to runway 9L due to a wind shift. They performed one touch-and-go landing and one full stop landing on runway 9L. His instructor got out of the airplane and he departed on his first solo flight. He performed one solo touch-and-go landing uneventfully. On the second landing the aircraft porpoised as he flared to land and a right crosswind pushed the aircraft to the left. He initiated a go-around; however, the aircraft touched down on the runway and went off the left side of the runway. He closed the throttle and applied enough rudder to go straight but not to go to the right and get back on the runway. As he approached a runway sign he swerved to the right and struck the sign with the left inboard wing causing the left main landing gear to separate. The aircraft then struck another runway sign and came to rest in a ditch. The winds were reported to be from 130 degrees at 13 knots, 2 minutes after the accident. Florida Institute of Technology guidelines to instructors concerning crosswind landings state that "all personnel must be trained to recognize their own limits which are a function of both total time and recency of experience. Limits of both you and the student may be lower than indicated maximums." The guidelines state solo students can not takeoff or land with a maximum crosswind component of more than 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N607FT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N607FT), registered now, S/N 28-7916271, built 1979 (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: 2841215 - Airframe hours: 3214 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Florida Inst. Of Technology - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1995, 17 hours before - Departed: MLB - Airport: MLB, Melbourne Regional, runway 9L, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MLB, 1 nm away ## 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 19950926030239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950926030239A), Sep 26, 1995: Piper PA28161, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. First solo. Lost directional control on second landing after porpoising. Crosswind factor not good for first solo. ## Other investigations on N607FT (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 GAA19CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA071), Nov 20, 2018: Piper PA28 (N607FT), Miami, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The other pilot's improper decision to taxi past another airplane occupying a taxiway and her subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the airplane. - [NTSB MIA05CA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA014), Oct 19, 2004: Piper PA-28-161 (N607FT), Valkaria, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent collision with a deer during takeoff which resulted in damage to the right brake system and the airplane being unable to stop prior to the end of the runway. 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.