# NTSB NYC94LA076: Piper PA-28-180, N8454N, Danbury, CT, May 2, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1994, 13:38 local (17:38 UTC)
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Location: 41.3715° N, 73.4822° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DANBURY MUNI (DXR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3715&lon=-73.4822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38748/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA076

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATTION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - sign
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS.  ON HIS FOURTH LANDING ON RUNWAY 35, HE STATED:  '...WIND SHIFTED, TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NUMBERS ON RUNWAY CENTERLINE. APPLIED AILERON INTO WIND.  LEFT WING LIFTED UP.  [THE AIRPLANE] DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE [OF THE] RUNWAY [AND] STRUCK...[A] SIGN, WHICH SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR.'  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS.

## Factual narrative

On Monday, May 2, 1994, at 1338 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8453N, piloted by William B. MacDonald, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, Connecticut.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under  14 CFR Part 91.

The student pilot was conducting touch and go landings.  In his report, the pilot stated:

[On the] fourth landing the wind shifted.           Touched down at numbers on runway centerline.           [I] applied aileron into wind. [The] left wing           lifted up [and the airplane] drifted off the           right side [of the] runway [and] struck a           taxiway sign which sheared off [the] right           landing gear....

The pilot reported that the winds were from 290 degrees at 12 knots.  He landed on runway 35, which was 3135 feet long and 150 feet wide.  At the time of the accident, the pilot had a total of 70 hours flight time.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8454N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8454N), registered now, S/N 28-8290051 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8290051
- Airframe hours: 2815
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aerobluff, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 1993, 26 hours before
- Airport: DXR, Danbury Municipal, runway 35, 3,135 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 9 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °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 19940502010469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940502010469A), May 2, 1994: Piper PA28180, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. Veered off runway and struck taxiway sign during touch and go. Impact sheared off right landing gear.

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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