# NTSB NYC98LA030: Piper PA-28-160, N5189W, Mount Holly, NJ, November 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 19, 1997, 11:22 local (16:22 UTC) - Place: Mount Holly, NJ - Location: 39.9429° N, 74.8457° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SOUTH JERSEY RGNL (VAY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9429&lon=-74.8457&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39503/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA030 ## 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) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - pole - object - wind sock/indicator ## Analysis The student pilot was performing solo takeoffs and landings to Runway 26. During the third landing, the airplane veered off to the left of the runway and struck a pole and wind indicator. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The winds at a nearby airport were reported to be from 240 degrees at 4 knots. The student pilot had 32 hours of total flight experience, 15 hours were in make and model. ## Factual narrative On November 19, 1997, at 1122 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA-28-160, N5189W, was substantially damaged when it collided with a pole and wind indicator during the landing roll at the South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY), Mount Holly, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. This was a student pilot supervised solo, and he was conducting the landings to Runway 26, a 3,911 foot long, 50 foot wide, asphalt runway. The student pilot reported that his first two landings were normal. During the third landing, "...I was on roll-out when the plane suddenly swerved off to the left, I panicked and just hung on until I hit a pole..." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any. The winds at a nearby airport were reported to from 240 degrees at 4 knots. The student pilot had 32 hours of total flight experience, 15 hours were in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5189W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5189W-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 28-224, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-224 - Airframe hours: 3390 - Engines: Lycoming O320 B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raymond Leonardo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1997, 20 hours before - Departed: VAY - Airport: VAY, South Jersey Regional, runway 26, 3,911 × 50 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: 32 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 20 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 19971119033679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971119033679A), Nov 19, 1997: Piper PA28160, Mount Holly, NJ, Substantial damage. 1St solo 3rd landing veered off run into wind sock pole. (.4)the student pilot was performing solo takeoffs and landings to runway 26. During the third… 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.