Piper PA 28-161 accident near Pensacola, Florida, April 15, 2018
On April 15, 2018 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA 28-161, registered N8115Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pensacola, Florida (Ferguson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control and long landing in gusting wind conditions due to his shoe getting stuck on the brakes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2018 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida · Ferguson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-161 161, built 1979 · all PA 28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8115Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he landed with a left crosswind with about the final third of the 3,200-ft-long runway remaining. He reported that his ground speed was too fast, and after his initial brake application, he increased brake pressure and his right shoe became "stuck between the right pedal and the toe brake." The airplane veered to the right and exited the right side of the runway, striking a runway light before it collided with a creek where it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. According to the METAR located 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 310° at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot landed on runway 36. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Task environment › (general) › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 5,399 hours total
- Operator: Wrong Bros Aviator Training School LLC
The flight
- Departed from: MOB Mobile AL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 82J Pensacola FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KNPA, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 28, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.