Piper PA-28-180 N38730

Summary

On 10 May 2007 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N38730 was involved in an accident near Fairmont, West Virginia, 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

10 May 2007 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairmont, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Fairmount Municipal (4G7)

Coordinates

39.4483, -80.1664

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N38730

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Buckhannon → Fairmont

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

MIA07CA096

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he flew a stabilized approach and had a normal touchdown. After touchdown the airplane veered to the left, and he compensated with right rudder but got no response. As the airplane drifted to the left, he increased the right rudder inputs and also used right toe-brake but again got no response. Before exiting the runway he pulled the handbrake while applying hard right toe-brake. The aircraft did slow but didn't turn to the right. After exiting the runway the airplane overran the VASI light system and struck a row of runway lights. After which the airplane impacted an embankment and slid obliquely down the side of it. The airplane then impacted another embankment perpendicular to that one, shearing the nose-wheel, bending the prop and engine-cowl. The airplane then rolled to the left and the wing struck the ground, buckling the inboard side fuel tank bulkhead and partially shearing from the fuselage before it come to a stop. The pilot stated that the airplane's nosewheel steering and brakes performed normally prior to the accident flight. The responding FAA inspector stated that examination of the site indicated that the airplane touchdown point was 25 yards from the end of the runway and 8 yards left of the centerline, and angled directly towards the second VASI light installation. Following the tire tracks it appears that the underside of the left wing impacted the VASI light. The pilot stated to the FAA inspector that there were no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.