# NTSB ATL96LA098: Piper PA-20, N7685K, Calhoun, GA, June 30, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1996, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Calhoun, GA
- Coordinates: 34.489284, -84.939468 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4893&lon=-84.9395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3736/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA098

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot stated that on landing rollout the tail wheel started to vibrate. The airplane veered to the left off the side of the runway, and the landing gear and left wing collided with the terrain. Examination of the tail wheel steering system revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On June 30, 1996, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-20, N7685K was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during landing rollout near Calhoun, Georgia. Neither the airline transport pilot, nor his passenger were injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of  Title 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, personal flight. The flight departed Calhoun, Georgia at 1300.

The pilot stated that during landing roll, the tail wheel began to vibrate. The aircraft began to veer off the runway to the left, and he was unable to stop the turn with rudder. The aircraft ran off the side of the runway, and the left main landing gear and left wing were substantially damaged after contacting the rough terrain on the side of the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7685K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7685K-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 20-507, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20-507
- Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jerry W. Lowery
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1995
- Departed: CZL
- Airport: CZL, Tom B. David, runway 35, 4,609 × 35 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,501 total, 250 in this make and model, 4,307 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PDK, 35 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19960630015719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960630015719A), Jun 30, 1996: Piper PA20, Calhoun, Substantial damage. Tail wheel vibration landing. Plane swervedtried to correct but unable. Ran off runway into rough terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.