N2903A – PIPER PA-28-181 – 2009-07-23 NTSB Accident Report

On July 23, 2009, a Piper PA-28-181 (N2903A) was involved in an incident near Metaline Falls, WA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s failure, during the landing roll, to identify the end of the runway and stop the airplane within the space available.

The pilot reported that during the landing on the unimproved mountain airstrip, he did not apply the brakes as he intended to “coast” up to the end of the runway, and then depart in the opposite direction, downhill. The pilot did not identify the end of the runway until the last moment when he applied the brakes and full right rudder. However, the airplane exited the runway, and impacted a ditch resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. The pilot stated that he had identified the red runway end marker in the air, but could not see it in the tall grass until it was too late. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear assembly. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or flight control system.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA363. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2903A.