Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a collision with objects while attempting to abort the landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that after landing on his unpublished airstrip, he did not get the airplane slowed down on the wet grass surface. During the landing roll the airplane slid sideways, and the pilot aborted the landing. During the departure climb, the left wheel struck a fence resulting in a loss of control and the impact with a storage structure. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15CA103 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 12, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Steele, North Dakota
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA 28-180
- N-number
- N56074
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1973
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.