Primary finding
Probable cause
an improperly planned approach and touchdown, which resulted in an loss of directional control at touchdown, with the airplane departing the runway, and striking a ravine.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot reported his final approach speed was, 'a little fast' as he came in for a landing. Additionally, he reported, '...very little crosswind. Windsock was limp...as soon as my wheels touched down, everything went to the left....' the airplane departed the left side of the runway and went down an embankment, into a ravine. Examination of the airplane revealed no problems with the brakes or the wheels.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 31, 1995, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-161, N8115L, was substantially damaged while landing at Bluffton, Ohio. The pilot, Gary Lemaitre, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported that the flight originated at Sandusky, Ohio, with Bluffton, as the planned destination. In a signed statement, he reported: Downwind for [runway] 23 - everything seemed normal. Final approach was a little fast (68 indicated). I noticed very little crosswind. Windsock was limp at 100 ft. Didn't feel like I hit the runway hard, but as soon as my wheels touched down, everything went to the left. Tail went to the right into a slide and then immediately into about a 15 ft ditch. No injuries noticed. The nose landing gear collapsed, the fuselage was wrinkled, and the right landing gear penetrated the right wing. No mechanical failure or malfunction was found with the wheels or brakes. Runway 23 was 4134 feet long. The landing threshold was displaced 400 feet. The airplane departed the runway 1600 feet from the displaced landing threshold. -