Piper PA-28-140 accident near Livingston, Tennessee, February 17, 2013
On February 17, 2013 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N43077, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Livingston, Tennessee (Livingston Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2013 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Livingston, Tennessee · Livingston Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N43077 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he was practicing touch-and-go landings. After successfully completing five landings, he noticed that the wind speed was increasing and decided to make one last landing. As the airplane landed, it was struck by a gust of wind and then veered right. The student pilot attempted to regain control by applying the brakes. However, he was unable to control the airplane; it struck a tree, turned 90 degrees to the right, and came to rest in a grassy area. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall during the accident sequence. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, he reported the wind about the time of the accident was about 40 degrees from the left at 4 to 6 knots, gusting to 9 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Genesis Aviation Aircraft Rental
The flight
- Departed from: 8A3 Livingston TN at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 8A3 Livingston TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 5,152 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots, gusting 9
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:30 pm from 8A3
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.