# NTSB WPR22LA260: Piper PA-28-161, N43037, Kelso, WA, July 12, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 11, 2022, 17:00 local (Jul 12, 2022, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Kelso, WA
- Coordinates: 46.118, -122.89836 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1180&lon=-122.8984&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105511/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105511
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA260

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a loss of airplane control during landing with gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [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-28-161, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that, during the flare for landing, the airplane experienced ground effect and was settling down to the runway when it was hit by “a very intense wind shear with a gust…” The pilot stated that the airplane yawed to the left and that he could not recover as the airplane exited the runway onto the grass. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged when it collided with a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43037](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43037), registered now, S/N 28-8316068, built 1983 (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: 28-8316068
- Year built: 1983
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Glacier Aviation
- Registered owner: Glacier Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: OLM, Olympia, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: KLS, Southwest Washington Regional Airport, runway 30, 4,391 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 40 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KKLS
- METAR: METAR KKLS 112335Z AUTO 32010KT 10SM CLR 33/16 A2998

## 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 20220712012479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220712012479A), Jul 12, 2022: Piper PA-28-161, Kelso, WA, Substantial damage. During landing on rwy 32 a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer left striking the PAPI light with the right wing, outboard of the fuel tank. The solo…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105511. 1.0 MB in all.

- Email-pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14629795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Re_%20Kelso%20incident%207_12_22%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-courtesy of the owner (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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