NTSB Factual Report

On November 1, 2003, at 1415 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N41977, was substantially damaged while landing at the Quantico Marine Corps Airfield/Turner Field (NYG), Quantico, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Middle Peninsula Regional Airport (FYJ), West Point, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he touched down on runway 02, about 500 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. As he applied the brakes, the right brake "seemed to pull harder than the left," and he immediately released the brake pressure. The pilot applied left rudder to compensate for the situation, and the airplane began to "fishtail" down the runway. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway, and impacted a concrete block, shearing off the right landing gear and damaging the right wing.

The airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and substantial damage was noted to the right wing spar. The inspector was unable to examine the right brake, due to the extensive impact damage to the right landing gear. However, according to the inspector, no skid marks were observed on the runway. Runway 02 was 4,279 feet long, 200 feet wide, with an asphalt surface.

The pilot reported 89 hours of total flight experience, 5 of which were in make and model.

Weather reported at the time of the accident included a few clouds at 20,000 feet, 7 miles visibility, and wind from 190 degrees at 6 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was the tail wind.