Piper PA-28-160 N5958W accident near Lanett, Alabama

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with taxiway sign.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was approaching the destination airport for landing and reported that the landing approach was higher and faster than usual. The airplane floated in ground effect before eventually touching down. While decelerating the airplane during the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and despite his attempts to make corrective control inputs, the airplane departed the paved runway surface. The airplane subsequently struck a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage to one of the engine’s mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have conducted a go-around rather than continue the unstable (high/fast) landing approach.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA185 for the full record.