# Accident 20240309003489A: Piper PA-11, Death Valley, NV, March 9, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2024, 10:30 local time
- Place: Death Valley, NV
- Airport: Furnace Creek Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.4600° N, 116.8800° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4600&lon=-116.8800&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 PA-11
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 206 total, 103 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240309003489A

## Narrative

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

UPON LANDING PILOT FAILED TO CHECK WINDSOCK WHILE CONDUCTING OVERFLIGHT OF AIRFIELD.  THE PILOT LANDED WITH A TAILWIND AND LOST RUDDER AUTHORITY, LOST CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP.  DURING ROLLOUT, AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A RUNWAY SIGN.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 WPR24LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA107), Mar 9, 2024: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Death Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, resulting in a ground loop and runway excursion.

## Other reports on N78659 (3)

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

- [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.…
- [Accident 19990521028529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990521028529A), May 21, 1999: Piper PA11 (N78659), Leesburg, VA, Substantial damage. (-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…

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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