# NTSB BFO95LA090: Insua L-21, N2446V, Petersburg, VA, August 20, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1995, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.210559, -77.500808 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2106&lon=-77.5008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA090

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.

## 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
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE CALM AND THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 1995, about 1445 eastern daylight time,  an Insua L-21 homebuilt airplane, N2446V, piloted by the  registered owner, sustained substantial damage when the   right wing struck the ground during the landing roll in   Petersburg, Virginia.  The private pilot and one passenger,  the sole occupants, reported no injuries.  Visual  meteorological conditions prevailed for the pleasure flight,  no flight plan was filed.   The flight operated under 14 CFR  Part 91, and originated in Florence, South Carolina  approximately 1115.

The pilot stated that he landed at Petersburg, Virginia to  refuel, and intended to continue on to Cambridge, Maryland.   He reported that he landed on runway 5, but "...lost control  on touchdown...plane ground looped to [the] left... ."   The  right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing struck  the ground.  The pilot reported that the winds were calm, and  that there was no mechanical malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2446V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2446V), registered now, S/N 14795330, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: INSUA L-21
- Registry model: [Piper-Insua L-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-insua-l-21) (registry code 7101839) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 14795330
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Knight, Donald A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: FLO, FLORENCE, SC
- Destination: PTB
- Airport: PTB, Petersburg Municipal, runway 5, 4,998 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 431 total, 431 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PTB

## 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 19950820027039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820027039A), Aug 20, 1995: Piper L21A, Petersburg, VA, Substantial damage. Ground looped landing. Right main gear collapsed. Right wing hit ground. Wind calm. No anomalies.

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.

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