Piper PA28R accident near Spokane, Washington, August 19, 2019
On August 19, 2019 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA28R, registered N43793, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Spokane, Washington (Felts Field). 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
A loss of directional control during landing for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2019 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 201, built 1977 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N43793 · registry record · serial 28R-7737135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, after the nosewheel touched down, the airplane “immediately” veered to the right and he was unable to regain control. The airplane continued off the side of the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the steering linkage control rod exhibited bending of the threaded shaft and 45o shear lips and cupping on the fractured surface, consistent with a ductile overstress fracture. The left main landing gear collapse and the steering linkage and control rod fracture likely occurred during the accident sequence from side loads experienced during the runway excursion. The reason for the loss of control during landing could not be determined.
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
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,763 hours in all; 1,716 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 2,632 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 27, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 2018
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 74S Anacortes WA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22R, 4,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from KGEG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 18, 2022. 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 | Email-faa Examination Notes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array-faa | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N43793 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.