Landing / Ground Loss of Control · NTSB ERA10FA020
PIPER PA-28-181 — Oliver Springs, TN
| Date | October 18, 2009 |
| Location | Oliver Springs, TN |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-28-181 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Landing-landing roll Runway excursion |
| Pilot age | 65 |
| Pilot total time | 228 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa-Wet-Not specified
What happened
While landing on the wet turf runway, most likely with a slight tailwind, the airplane touched down and bounced back airborne. The airplane touched down again and turned about 45 degrees to the left, skidding toward the woods. Just prior to reaching the woods, the airplane's course began to straighten and it continued through a fence. The airplane subsequently swung around where its left side impacted a tree in the vicinity of the pilot's seat. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Post-mortem toxicology testing detected an over-the-counter decongestant, antihistamine, and cough suppressant in the pilot’s urine, but not blood, suggesting use no later than the previous evening of an over-the-counter night-time cold/allergy preparation. It is unlikely that the pilot would have been impaired by such use at the time of the accident.