Piper PA 28R N5381F

Summary

On 16 November 2017 at about 20:10 local time, a Piper PA 28R registered N5381F was involved in an accident near Melborne, Florida, 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

16 November 2017 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Melborne, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Melbourne Intl (MLB)

Coordinates

28.1028, -80.6453

Aircraft

Piper PA 28R

Registration

N5381F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Flagler Beach → Melborne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA053

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll on the wet runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during an approach in the rain, there were wind gusts, and he retracted the flaps to zero. He noted that, "I decided to land a little faster than the preferred 75-80 mph." The pilot reported that the airplane "did not settle into a normal rollout." He recalled that a few seconds into the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane continued across the safety area and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector showed three parallel rubber skid markings that began about 1,500 ft from the approach end of the runway. The markings began in the center of the runway and exhibited a sharp left turn that continued along a path through the safety area and stopped at the drainage culvert. The pilot reported that the left main landing gear assembly and tire failed during the landing roll. However, an examination of the landing gear assembly, wheel, and tire revealed that there were no mechanical anomalies or failures before the runway excursion. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the rain was light, and the wind was from 010° at 12 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.