ATL06CA081

Factual narrative

On May 18, 2006, at 1040 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N9902W, registered to and operated by Maxair Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with a ditch on landing roll out at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Smyrna Airport, Smyrna, Tennessee, on May 18, 2006, at 1025. The student pilot stated he departed Smyrna and flew direct to Murphreesboro. Upon arrival he listened to the Airport Terminal Information System information and observed the wind sock which indicated a right crosswind. The student pilot over flew the airport at midfield, descended, entered left traffic for runway 18, completed the before landing checklist, lowered flaps to one notch, and turned on the base leg. The student pilot turned the airplane on final approach, reduced airspeed, lowered flaps to the second notch, and entered right aileron for the crosswind correction. The power was reduced 30 feet from his intended touch down point. The airplane touched down on the runway, and the cross wind correction was removed on landing roll out. The airplane veered to the right, the student pilot applied left rudder, and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane turned 90-degrees, slide sideways off the side of the runway, and collided with a ditch coming to a complete stop. The student pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident, and he just lost directional control of the airplane. The student pilot stated that he departed Smyrna, Tennessee, and flew direct to Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Upon arrival he listened to the Airport Terminal Information System information and observed the wind sock which indicated a right crosswind. The student pilot overflew the airport at midfield, descended, entered left traffic for runway 18, completed the before landing checklist, lowered flaps to one notch, and turned on the base leg. The student pilot turned the airplane on final approach, reduced airspeed, lowered flaps to the second notch, and entered right aileron for the crosswind correction. The power was reduced 30 feet from his intended touchdown point. The airplane touched down on the runway, and the cross wind correction was removed on landing roll out. The airplane veered to the right, the student pilot applied left rudder, and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane turned 90-degrees, slid sideways off the side of the runway, and collided with a ditch coming to a complete stop. The student pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident, and he just lost directional control of the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12