# NTSB CEN09CA596: Aviat A-1C-180, N52PH, Princeton, MN, September 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 19, 2009, 09:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Princeton, MN - Coordinates: 45.566665, -93.599998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5667&lon=-93.6000&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA596 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74775/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74775 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA596 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2210410), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during landing the airplane's tail began to "oscillate" when it contacted the runway. The airplane then drifted off the right side of the runway and the right main landing gear wheel encountered the adjacent terrain. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage that included wrinkling of the left wing skin, damage to the vertical stabilizer, and damage to the left side of the fuselage near the windshield. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were uninjured. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were noted. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during landing on runway 15 (3,900 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) the airplane's tail began to "oscillate" when it contacted the runway. The airplane then "drifted" off the right side of the runway where the right main landing gear wheel encountered the adjacent terrain. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage that included wrinkling of the left wing skin, damage to the vertical stabilizer, and damage to the left side of the fuselage near the windshield. The pilot and pilot rated passenger were uninjured. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52PH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52PH), registered now, S/N 3043, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-180 - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-180) (registry code 2210410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1p) (registry code 42259, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3043 - Airframe hours: 158.6 - Engines: Lycoming o-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Business Solutions Engineering Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2009 - Departed: FCM, Eden Prarie, MN - Destination: PNM, Princeton, MN - Airport: PNM, Princeton Municipal, runway 15, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 639 total, 46 in this make and model, 554 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PNM ## 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 20090919049899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090919049899A), Sep 19, 2009: Aviat Aircr A-1C, Princeton, MN, Substantial damage. Approach seemed normal to pilot. Touch down seemed normal. Prior to the tail dropping aircraft began oscillating left and right, moving to the right hand side… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74775. 639 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.