# NTSB NYC04CA094: Piper PA-28-181, N340PA, Louisville, KY, March 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 25, 2004, 11:39 local (16:39 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.227779, -85.663612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2278&lon=-85.6636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58955/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA094 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, and the CFI's delayed remedial action. A factor related to the accident was the gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis As the student pilot was landing on the 80-foot wide runway, it began to drift to the right of the centerline. The certified flight instructor (CFI) immediately took control of the airplane, lowered the nose, and added full power. Attempts by the CFI to correct the drift using rudder and aileron inputs were unsuccessful, and the airplane touched down on the right side of the runway. The airplane continued down the right side of the runway, where the right wing struck a taxiway identification sign. The CFI additionally stated that he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The winds reported at the airport, at 1153, were from 200 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2004, at 1139 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N340PA, was substantially damaged while landing at the Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were 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 CFI, as the student pilot was landing on runway 24, a 4,326-foot long, 80-foot wide asphalt runway; it began to drift to the right of the centerline. The CFI immediately took control of the airplane, lowered the nose, and added full power. Attempts by the CFI to correct the drift using rudder and aileron inputs were unsuccessful, and the airplane touched down on the right side of the runway. The airplane continued down the right side of the runway, where the right wing struck a taxiway identification sign. The CFI additionally stated that he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The winds reported at the airport, at 1153, were from 200 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N340PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N340PA), registered now, S/N 2843516, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843516 - Airframe hours: 430 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air Center 1 - Registered owner: Peterson Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 10, 2004, 7 hours before - Departed: LOU, Louisville, KY - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field, runway 24, 4,326 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 10, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 317 total, 5 in this make and model, 265 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: LOU ## 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 20040325009689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040325009689A), Mar 25, 2004: Piper PA28181, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) During a dual instruction flight, the student pilot was landing the aircraft on runway 24. Just as the aircraft was flared prior to touch down, the… 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.