# NTSB MIA99LA153: Piper PA-28-140, N7173R, Rock Hill, SC, May 10, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 10, 1999, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Rock Hill, SC
- Coordinates: 34.930187, -81.019615 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9302&lon=-81.0196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46284/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA153

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control.  Related factors were the crosswind and the pilot's lack of experience.

## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

After landing the airplane started to drift to the right of the runway.  The airplane departed the runway, and collided with a ditch that ran parallel to the runway.  According to the pilot this was his first solo landing. The student pilot had a total of 50 hours flying time, and 6.4 hour in this kind of airplane.

## Factual narrative

On May 10, 1999, about 1540 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7173R, registered to a private individual, impacted with a ditch after landing at the Rock Hill Airport, Rock Hill, South Carolina.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The student pilot reported no injuries.  The flight had originated from the same airport at 1500.

The airplane landed on runway 02, and started to drift to the right of the runway.  The airplane departed the runway, and collided with a ditch that ran parallel to the runway.

According to the pilot this was his first solo landing.  He stated, "...final approach was normal, I noticed that a slight cross-wind had developed.  When the nose gear touched the plane inexplicably turned sharply right."  The student pilot had a total of 50 hours flying time, and 6.4 hour in this make and model airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7173R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7173R-2000-11-30), registration cancelled 2000-11-30, S/N 28-21883 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-21883
- Airframe hours: 3116
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Simpson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1999, 5 hours before
- Departed: UZA
- Airport: UZA, Rock Hill/York Co/Bryant, runway 2, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 3 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F

## 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 19990510004939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990510004939A), May 10, 1999: Piper PA28140, Rock Hill, SC, Substantial damage. (Tty) student pilot lost control of the acft on landing, and the acft went into a ditch, other circumstances are unknown. (.4) after landing the airplane…

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.

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