Piper PA-28-161 N251ND

Summary

On 1 October 2008 at about 20:20 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N251ND, operated by UND Aerospace Foundation, was involved in an accident near Crookston, Minnesota, United States. One person was 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

1 October 2008 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Crookston, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Crookston Muni (CKN)

Coordinates

47.7704, -96.6007

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N251ND

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

UND Aerospace Foundation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crookston → Crookston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA008

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the student pilot's limited flight experience. Additional factors were the presence of the ditch adjacent to the runway and the resulting collapse of the left main landing gear.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot stated that he was established on final approach for runway 31 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) and "everything was on track." When the airplane crossed the threshold, he reduced engine power and began the landing flare. After touchdown, the student pilot applied the brakes, which resulted in a skid and he was unable to maintain control. The airplane subsequently departed the runway pavement and came to rest in a ditch. The left main landing gear collapsed. The student pilot was performing his first landing on his initial solo flight at the time of the accident. He noted that the skies were clear and the winds were calm. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 13 hours total flight time, with 9 hours in the same make and model airplane. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies associated with a pre impact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.