# NTSB CEN09CA484: Piper PA22, N8602C, Terrell, TX, August 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2009, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Terrell, TX - Coordinates: 32.709167, -96.267219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7092&lon=-96.2672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA484 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA484 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to continue the approach and landing during thunderstorm activity, resulting in the loss of aircraft control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during his approach to land he observed thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport and observed moisture on the windscreen of the airplane. He elected to continue the approach and encountered strong turbulence during the base and final legs of the approach. During the turbulent encounter on short final, the airplane was turned 30 degrees to the right of runway heading and the nose was forced upward. The pilot regained control of the airplane and landed firmly on the runway surface. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, the left wing "dug" into the grass surface, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted. The outboard four feet of the left wing and the firewall of the airplane were bent. According to the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Witnesses observing the flight indicated that the wind shifted from a right quartering head wind to a right quartering tail wind and increased in velocity while the airplane was on short final. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during his approach to land he observed thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport and observed moisture on the windscreen of the airplane. He elected to continue the approach and encountered strong turbulence during the base and final legs of the approach. During the turbulent encounter on short final, the airplane was turned 30 degrees to the right of runway heading and the nose was forced upward. The pilot regained control of the airplane and landed firmly on the runway surface. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, the left wing "dug" into the grass surface, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted. The outboard four feet of the left wing and the firewall of the airplane were bent. According to the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Witnesses observing the flight indicated that the wind shifted from a right quartering head wind to a right quartering tail wind and increased in velocity while the airplane was on short final. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8602C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8602C), registered now, S/N 22-1282, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (135) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (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: 221282 - Airframe hours: 1986 - Engines: LYCOMING O290-02 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alvin L. Good - Registered owner: Alvin L. Good - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2009 - Departed: E70, Seguin, TX - Destination: TRL, Terrell, TX - Airport: TRL, Terrell Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,006 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 572 total, 3 in this make and model, 572 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KTRL ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74429. 720 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 557 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.