Pilot Debrief

PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 near Pearland, TX — 2021-05-29

Final reportCEN21FA239
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Date
2021-05-29
Location
Pearland, TX, USA
Airport
LVJ
Aircraft
PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104
Registration
N124MS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the presence of a drainage ditch between the runway and taxiway.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the severity of the accident was the presence of a drainage ditch between the runway and taxiway.

NTSB narrative

Airplane position data indicated that the pilot and pilot-rated passenger conducted a local flight before entering the airport traffic pattern for landing. The pilot-rated passenger stated that it was a “good landing.” The airplane touched down on the runway centerline, did not bounce, and tracked straight down the runway until it veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the runway pavement and encountered a ditch located between the runway and the parallel taxiway. A witness reported that the airplane touched down briefly but that it became airborne again and, about that time, veered to the right. It remained in a level attitude as it yawed to the right and exited the runway. Airport surveillance video footage depicted the airplane in a stabilized descent during the downwind to final turn. The pilot initiated the landing flare, and the airplane appeared to settle onto the runway. Shortly afterward, it veered abruptly to the right. The runway exhibited scuffing marks that began near the 1,000-ft touchdown markers and proceeded in a righthand arc to the edge of the pavement. The tracks continued into the grass area adjacent to the runway to the edge of the drainage ditch running between the runway and taxiway. The airplane impacted the opposite (rising embankment) side of the ditch, rose out of the ditch, and came to rest adjacent to the taxiway. The forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. A postrecovery airplane examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have initiated a go-around instead of continuing the landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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