# NTSB WPR15CA078: Piper PA 28R-200, N3811M, Sedona, AZ, January 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 4, 2015, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.810001, -111.800003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8100&lon=-111.8000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90566 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90566/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90566 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed his local airport for a personal cross-country flight. The runway at the landing airport was oriented north/south. The pilot stated that the weather at the time of his arrival was clear with calm wind, and that under those conditions aircraft generally land and takeoff to the north since the runway slopes upward in that direction. However, that day, aircraft in the traffic pattern were landing and taking off to the south. The pilot made a decision to follow the direction of prevailing traffic, flying and landing to the south. After landing, he applied the brakes to compensate for the sloped terrain. At the same time, the left wheel rolled over unidentified debris on the runway, which caused the pilot to lose directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot departed his local airport for a personal cross-country flight. The runway at the landing airport was oriented north/south. The pilot stated that the weather at the time of his arrival was clear with calm wind, and that under those conditions aircraft generally land and takeoff to the north since the runway slopes upward in that direction. However, that day, aircraft in the traffic pattern were landing and taking off to the south. The pilot made a decision to follow the direction of prevailing traffic, flying and landing to the south. After landing, he applied the brakes to compensate for the sloped terrain. At the same time, the left wheel rolled over unidentified debris on the runway, which caused the pilot to lose directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3811M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3811M), registered now, S/N 28R-35200, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35200 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 5058.66 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: D I V A 1336 LLC - Registered owner: D I V A 1336 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2014 - Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ - Destination: SEZ, SEDONA, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 21, 5,132 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 345.7 total, 66.5 in this make and model, 7.3 in the last 90 days, 7.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Observed at: SEZ ## 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 20150104000259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150104000259A), Jan 4, 2015: Piper PA-28R-200, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot stated: On January 4th,2015 in the early part of the morning I checked the weather on the computer for my destination I.e.kffz to ksez. The wind was 7… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90566. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement Given to FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Given%20to%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Right Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Landing%20Gear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Landing%20Gear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) (item 7, .PDF, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Air%20Transport)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) (item 8, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Air%20Transport)-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) (item 9, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Air%20Transport)-Master.PDF - Photo 7 - Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Air Transport) (item 10, .PDF, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20Aircraft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Air%20Transport)-Master.PDF 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.