Summary
On June 28, 2015, a Piper PA 28-180 (N9069J) was involved in an accident near Novato, CA. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries, with 2 people uninjured out of 4 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper pitch control which resulted in a bounced landing, runway excursion, and collision with terrain.
The pilot reported that during the landing the airplane bounced several times while attempting to compensate for a right quartering crosswind. The pilot stated that he believed the landing gear had failed as a result of the hard landing and, "intentionally guided the plane off the runway into the grass, in fear of an explosion." As a result of the runway excursion, the airplane impacted a ditch and sustained substantial damage as the left wing separated from the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA15CA149. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9069J.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper pitch control which resulted in a bounced landing, runway excursion, and collision with terrain.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing the airplane bounced several times while attempting to compensate for a right quartering crosswind. The pilot stated that he believed the landing gear had failed as a result of the hard landing and, "intentionally guided the plane off the runway into the grass, in fear of an explosion." As a result of the runway excursion, the airplane impacted a ditch and sustained substantial damage as the left wing separated from the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA149