# NTSB NYC02LA189: Piper PA-28-140, N6947W, Titusville, PA, September 8, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 2002, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, PA
- Coordinates: 41.614723, -79.741111
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6147&lon=-79.7411&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA189

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot performed five uneventful practice landings.  During the sixth landing attempt, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and traveled though a ditch, before it came to rest.  Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions; nor did the pilot report any.  The student pilot reported 65 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model.

## Factual narrative

On September 8, 2002, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6947W, was substantially damaged while landing at the Titusville Airport, Titusville, Pennsylvania.  The certificated student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the student pilot, she performed five uneventful practice landings to runway 36, a 4,902 foot-long, 75 foot-wide, asphalt runway.  During the sixth landing attempt, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and traveled through a ditch, before it came to rest.

A witness at the airport stated that the touchdown seemed normal; however after a "short roll, the airplane appeared to go sideways..."

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions; nor did the student pilot report any.

The student pilot reported 65 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6947W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6947W-2005-02-23), registration cancelled 2005-02-23, S/N 28-21132, built 1965 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-21132
- Airframe hours: 6740
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Joyce C. Willison
- Registered owner: Gary A. Willison
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 2002
- Departed: 6G1, Titusville, PA
- Destination: 6G1, Titusville, PA
- Airport: 6G1, Titusville, runway 36, 4,902 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 65 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: FKL, 15 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 20020908037579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020908037579A), Sep 8, 2002: Piper PA28140, Titusville, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated, while executing a landing, aircraft veered off right side of runway and stopped approximately thirty feet from runway. Pilot was not…

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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