Piper PA-28-180 N8RJ

Summary

On 4 January 1992 at about 19:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N8RJ, operated by Rattigan, Ronald, was involved in an accident near Young, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 January 1992 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Young, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pleasant Valley Airstrip (49E)

Coordinates

34.0791, -111.0102

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N8RJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rattigan, Ronald

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Cajon → Globe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA079

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT MUDDY RUNWAY CONDITIONS AT THE DIRT AIRSTRIP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE ARRIVED OVER THE DESTINATION AIRPORT ON TOP OF AN OVERCAST. THE PILOT FOUND A BREAK IN THE OVERCAST AND DESCENDED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE PILOT WAS ENCOUNTERING MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS WHILE UNDER THE OVERCAST. THE PILOT INDICATED RELIABLE RADIO NAVIGATION SIGNALS WERE LOST AND HE ELECTED TO LAND AT A DIRT AIRSTRIP, RATHER THAN TO CONTINUE FLIGHT IN MARGINAL VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AIRSTRIP'S DIRT RUNWAY WAS MUDDY AND THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY ON THE LEFT SIDE WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A BERM ON THE RUNWAY SHOULDER COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.