# NTSB NYC95LA128: Piper PA-28-161, N8115L, Bluffton, OH, May 31, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1995, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bluffton, OH - Coordinates: 40.890201, -83.880271 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8902&lon=-83.8803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38974/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA128 ## Probable cause an improperly planned approach and touchdown, which resulted in an loss of directional control at touchdown, with the airplane departing the runway, and striking a ravine. ## 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 - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ravine ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED HIS FINAL APPROACH SPEED WAS, 'A LITTLE FAST' AS HE CAME IN FOR A LANDING. ADDITIONALLY, HE REPORTED, '...VERY LITTLE CROSSWIND. WINDSOCK WAS LIMP...AS SOON AS MY WHEELS TOUCHED DOWN, EVERYTHING WENT TO THE LEFT....' THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, INTO A RAVINE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR THE WHEELS. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 1995, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-161, N8115L, was substantially damaged while landing at Bluffton, Ohio. The pilot, Gary Lemaitre, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that the flight originated at Sandusky, Ohio, with Bluffton, as the planned destination. In a signed statement, he reported: Downwind for [runway] 23 - everything seemed normal. Final approach was a little fast (68 indicated). I noticed very little crosswind. Windsock was limp at 100 ft. Didn't feel like I hit the runway hard, but as soon as my wheels touched down, everything went to the left. Tail went to the right into a slide and then immediately into about a 15 ft ditch. No injuries noticed. The nose landing gear collapsed, the fuselage was wrinkled, and the right landing gear penetrated the right wing. No mechanical failure or malfunction was found with the wheels or brakes. Runway 23 was 4134 feet long. The landing threshold was displaced 400 feet. The airplane departed the runway 1600 feet from the displaced landing threshold. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8115L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8115L), registered now, S/N 28-8016119, 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: 28-8016119 - Airframe hours: 4959 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Griffing Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Griffing - Sandusky Arpt Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 1995, 11 hours before - Departed: SKY, SANDUSKY, OH - Destination: 5G7 - Airport: 5G7, Bluffton, runway 23, 4,125 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 55 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19950531014429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950531014429A), May 31, 1995: Piper PA28161, Bluffton, OH, Substantial damage. Student lost directional control landing. Slid sideways into a ditch. Collapsed nose gear. Wrinkled fuselage. (-23) on may 31, 1995, Mr. Gary r. lemaitre… ## Other investigations on N8115L (1) 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 FTW83LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA389), Aug 20, 1983: Piper PA-28-161 (N8115L), Bryan, TX, substantial damage 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.