# NTSB WPR21LA136: Piper PA28, N5060W, Myrtle Creek, OR, March 16, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 16, 2021, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Myrtle Creek, OR
- Coordinates: 42.997261, -123.31534 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9973&lon=-123.3153&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102779
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102779/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102779
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA136

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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-28, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, he checked the airport’s wind indicators while on final approach prior to landing. He observed the wind tee to his left, which was partially obstructed by buildings, indicate a left crosswind, while the windsock to his right, abeam the runway numbers, indicated a right crosswind. He landed the airplane with 20° of wing flaps extended at 75 mph and subsequently retracted the flaps after the main landing gear touched down. According to the pilot, at that moment the airplane was impacted by simultaneous wind gusts from the left and right, and the prevailing wind pushed the airplane to the left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane dug into soft dirt, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5060W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5060W-2021-12-13), registration cancelled 2021-12-13, S/N 28-69 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (160)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-69
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 4304
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2021, 1 hours before
- Departed: RGB, Roseburg, OR
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 16S, Myrtle Creek Municipal, runway 03, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 196 total, 66 in this make and model, 6.2 in the last 90 days, 1.9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: RGB

## 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 20210316002629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210316002629A), Mar 16, 2021: Piper PA-28, Myrtle Creek, OR, Substantial damage. Airman was relocating aircraft after being in maintenance for 2 months. Upon arriving at the destination airports winds appeared to gusty and variable. Upon…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102779. 11.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12146953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation, accident pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147040&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Federal aviation administration statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 234 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12146165&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.

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