NTSB ATL07CA062 — 2007-03-24 · Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Current FAA registration · N4988L

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-180
Year of manufacture: 1967 · 40 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19671010
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A6314B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4988L Piper PA-28A-180C None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing with a flat main tire.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot he was on a short cross-country flight to the Fulton County Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was uneventful, and he conducted a visual approach to runway 26. The touchdown was normal, however the airplane began to drift to the left during landing roll out. He added right rudder pressure to control the drift, however as the airspeed reduced, the weight shifted from the wings to the landing gear, and directional control became difficult. The airplane drifted off the runway and the left wing struck an airport sign. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed that the left main tire was flat. Examination of the left wing and left main tire by an FAA inspector revealed that the left wing had rib and spar damage. Further examination of the left main tire revealed it was flat, and unable to retain air when filled. According to the pilot, the short cross-country flight t was uneventful. Upon landing at the destination airport, the airplane began to drift to the left during roll out. He added right rudder pressure to control the drift, however as the airspeed reduced, the weight shifted from the wings to the landing gear, and directional control became difficult. The airplane drifted off the runway and the left wing struck an airport sign. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed that the left main tire was flat. Examination of the left wing and left main tire by an FAA inspector revealed that the left wing had rib and spar damage. Further examination of the left main tire revealed it was flat, and unable to retain air when filled. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2007_ATL07CA062.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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