According to the pilot, the Piper PA-28-180 touched down on the approach end of the grass airstrip in Whaleyville, Virginia.
During the landing roll, he did not realize that his “right foot was resting against the right toe brake.”
The airplane left the right side of the airstrip and hit trees.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and horizontal stabilizer.
The pilot did not possess a pilot certificate.
Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA430
This July 2017 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Simple rule when landing and on approach. Center your feet on the RUDDER pedals and keep them there until after the wheels are all down and rolling. Then only tap the brakes for directional control and stopping.
It’s fools like this that cause problems for us all. I don’t care about him, I care about the innocent lives he could have took for being so reckless
WOW, this is worse than the ‘unregistered aircraft’ crash. !
This guy had flown 250 hrs and does not have a pilot certificate or a medical cert.
One has to wonder if he ever trained with an instructor at all.
So now, besides having destroyed an aircraft, the FAA can impose a significant fine.
see. FAA reg. 2150.3c.. he could be fined $50,000. !!
And we get to pay higher insurance premiums.