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GAA18CA368

2018-06-18 · Columbia, South Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CAE

Current FAA registration · N41AL

Make / Model
PIPER PA-32-300
Engine
LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20170706
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4D1D2

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he landed to the right of the runway centerline. Then, the airplane veered off the runway to the left, the nose wheel separated and had a propeller strike. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower firewall mating the lower engine mount, as confirmed by the manufacturer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. The pilot reported that he landed the airplane right of the runway centerline. The airplane then veered off the runway to the left, the propeller struck the ground, and the nosewheel separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower firewall mating the lower engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA368.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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