AUBURN, CA, USA
N8339X
PIPER PA-32-301T
WHILE LANDING IN A RIGHT CROSSWIND THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN FIRST ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. AS THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE GEAR THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND EXITED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A DITCH AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 75 FEET LEFT OF CENTERLINE. THE PILOT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE AND HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 5.2 FLIGHT HOURS IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL ALL WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 30 DAYS. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE DITCH WAS LOCATED IN THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA. THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA IS 300 FEET WIDE CENTERED ON THE RUNWAY AND IS SUPPOSED TO ACCOMMODATE THE OCCASIONAL PASSAGE OF AN AIRPLANE WITHOUT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
