Piper PA-32-300 N28693

Summary

On 21 November 2003 at about 17:25 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N28693 was involved in an accident near Superior, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 November 2003 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Superior, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Bong Airport (SUW)

Coordinates

46.6939, -92.0947

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N28693

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Superior

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA034

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the ditch that the airplane contacted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with a ditch following a loss of directional control while landing. The pilot reported the airplane touched down at an airspeed of 80 to 85 knots. He reported that after a brief landing roll, he tapped the brakes and the airplane pulled to the left toward the grass. The pilot reported he pulled back on the control yoke and applied light brakes as the airplane continued toward the grass. Upon seeing a drainage ditch that was perpendicular to the runway, the pilot applied power and pulled back in an attempt to clear the ditch. The airplane contacted the ditch at which time the landing gear collapsed. Inspection of the airplane's brakes following the accident failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction. Skid marks on the runway matched the track of the right main and nose gears. No tracks from the left main gear were visible until a point where the airplane had traveled into the grass. The pilot made the following recommendation as to how the accident could have been avoided. "Reduce landing touchdown speed, and after landing allow aircraft to runout and burn off speed naturally before applying brakes."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.