PIPER PA28 near Aberdeen, MS — 2019-03-29

Final reportCEN19TA112

Date: 2019-03-29
Location: Aberdeen, MS, USA
Airport: M40
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Registration: N8397W
Category: Airplane
Highest injury: Minor
Fatalities: 0
Phase of flight: Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a collision with a fence and impact with terrain during the attempted aborted landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and the passenger, who had recently purchased the airplane, were repositioning the airplane to the destination airport. According to the passenger, who was a student pilot, the pilot was acting as the pilot-in-command and was manipulating the flight controls. The passenger stated that the flight was uneventful until landing. During the landing flare, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left after touchdown. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the pilot applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing, the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch. The pilot had no memory of the accident flight. The postaccident airplane examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The flaps were found fully extended. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control during landing and that the airplane did not gain enough altitude during the go-around attempt to avoid the airport perimeter fence.