Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain vigilance, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that during the landing roll he heard something fall in the back seat. He looked back; when he looked forward again the airplane had veered to the right. The student pilot attempted to correct with the rudder, but reported that he "overcorrected" to the left and then to the right, and then "hammered" on the brakes. Subsequently the airplane skid off the runway to the right and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA037 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 31, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Perry, New York
- Nearest airport
- Perry-Warsaw (01G)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA 28-140
- N-number
- N6665J
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1968
- 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.