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March 26, 2023 · Piper PA-28-151 NO Series · N541SP

St. Augustine, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 26, 2023
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
St. Augustine, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-151 NO Series
Tail Number
N541SP
Operator
Florida Aviation Career Training
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA23LA165

The pilot reported that following a local flight, the approach to landing and touchdown were normal, however, as he applied wheel brakes, the airplane veered to the right. He attempted to correct with left rudder and brake application but was unable to stop the right veer. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and impacted a drainage ditch about 175 ft from the runway’s edge, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mounts. The pilot reported that this was the first landing of the flight, and no anomalies were noted with the brakes or flight controls prior to the landing. He recalled that during the runway excursion, shortly before impacting the ditch, the airplane straightened out and stopped the right turn. Shortly after the accident, the wings were removed for recovery which prevented the investigation from determining whether air was present in the brake lines. Photographs of the main landing gear wheels, brakes, and brake lines revealed no evidence of catastrophic mechanical failures or evidence that brake lines had become disconnected. Review of maintenance records found no evidence of recent brake work, and the endorsements showed that the brake fluid reservoir was serviced routinely. The operator and pilot both submitted a National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Incident Report (6120.1) and neither party reported that there were mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. About the time of the accident, the automated weather observing system reported wind 220° at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots, which was a direct crosswind for the landing runway 13. It is likely that the airplane encountered a crosswind gust during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane veering right toward the direction of the crosswind. This conclusion is further supported by the pilot’s report that the airplane straightened out, once the crosswind became a headwind, shortly before its collision with the ditch.

NTSB Probable Cause

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

Full Narrative

The pilot reported that following a local flight, the approach to landing and touchdown were normal, however, as he applied wheel brakes, the airplane veered to the right. He attempted to correct with left rudder and brake application but was unable to stop the right veer. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and impacted a drainage ditch about 175 ft from the runway’s edge, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mounts. The pilot reported that this was the first landing of the flight, and no anomalies were noted with the brakes or flight controls prior to the landing. He recalled that during the runway excursion, shortly before impacting the ditch, the airplane straightened out and stopped the right turn. Shortly after the accident, the wings were removed for recovery which prevented the investigation from determining whether air was present in the brake lines. Photographs of the main landing gear wheels, brakes, and brake lines revealed no evidence of catastrophic mechanical failures or evidence that brake lines had become disconnected. Review of maintenance records found no evidence of recent brake work, and the endorsements showed that the brake fluid reservoir was serviced routinely. The operator and pilot both submitted a National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Incident Report (6120.1) and neither party reported that there were mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. About the time of the accident, the automated weather observing system reported wind 220° at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots, which was a direct crosswind for the landing runway 13. It is likely that the airplane encountered a crosswind gust during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane veering right toward the direction of the crosswind. This conclusion is further supported by the pilot’s report that the airplane straightened out, once the crosswind became a headwind, shortly before its collision with the ditch.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 EDT
Nearest AirportNortheast Florida Regional Air (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length8001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-151 NO Series
Tail NumberN541SP
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFlorida Aviation Career Training
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 83 · Basc · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 9 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time11:43
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data