# Accident 19990521028529A: Piper PA11, Leesburg, VA, May 21, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 1999, 14:14 local time
- Place: Leesburg, VA
- Airport: Leesburg Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0780° N, 77.5575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at , within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0780&lon=-77.5575&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78659, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78659) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-11 (registry code 7101102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA11
- Reported engine: CONT C9012F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,350 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990521028529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) WHILE LANDING WITH A CROSSWIND ON RUNWAY 35 AT LEESBURG, VA. THE WIND SHIFTED TO A TAILWIND.  AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY STRIKING A RUNWAY MARKER DOING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.  (.4) THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS INTRODUCING THE COMMERCIAL PILOT TO TAILWHEEL OPERATIONS.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD ACCOMPLISHED APPROXIMATELY SIX LANDINGS IN THE AIRPLANE.  DURING THE NEXT LANDING, THE PILOTS EXPERIENCED A CROSSWIND, FOLLOWED BY A TAILWIND.  THE AIRPLANE STALLED, BOUNCED, AND TRAVELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, PREVENTED A GROUND LOOP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A RUNWAY SIGN, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC99LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA117), May 21, 1999: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Leesburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's (CFI) failure to maintain control of the airplane.

## Other reports on N78659 (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20240309003489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240309003489A), Mar 9, 2024: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Death Valley, NV, Substantial damage. Upon landing pilot failed to check windsock while conducting overflight of airfield. The pilot landed with a tailwind and lost rudder authority, lost control…
- [Accident 20110911024709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110911024709A), Sep 11, 2011: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Winchester, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot taxiied too close to trees on private turf strip and impacted a tree with left wing.
- [Incident 20100727043192I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100727043192I), Jul 27, 2010: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Fisk, WI, Minor damage. Fisk arrival past ripon, 1800 MSL. Felt impact. Saw plane go ahead of him appeared to be descending. 10 seconds later after controls check, set 1800 RPM.…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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