No fatalities

9 Jun 2015: PIPER PA 28-140 140 — Griffing Flying Service — Swanton, OH

Swanton, OH, United States

On 9 Jun 2015, a PIPER PA 28-140 140 operated by Griffing Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Swanton, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper rudder input during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a crosswind landing, a pilot's erroneous rudder input caused the aircraft to swerve, depart the runway, and strike a sign, resulting in substantial wing damage.

Incident Details

A pilot reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, he applied what he described as a "bad" rudder correction. This input caused the airplane to swerve immediately. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain control, and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway.

Aircraft Damage

As the airplane left the runway, its right wing struck a runway crossing sign. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. No other damage was reported.

Pilot Report

The pilot indicated that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions involving the airframe or engine. He stated that the aircraft was operating normally prior to the incident, and no anomalies were noted that would have prevented normal operation.

Probable cause

The pilot's improper rudder input during the landing roll.

Contributing factors

Causes

Student/instructed pilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on operationContributed to outcome