- Date
- June 22, 2009, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alpine, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2320PPiper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20090622009139A
- Case key
- 74109
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he configured the airplane for a crosswind landing with the application of left aileron and right rudder. He initially touched down on the main landing gear when the aircraft bounced and became airborne again. The pilot added power to prepare for a three-point landing, and touched back on the runway again. According to statements from the pilot and passenger, the airplane immediately veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder and add full power for a go-around. The pilot failed to gain control of the aircraft and spun 180 degrees off the right side of the runway. The aircraft’s left main gear collapsed upon leaving the runway, causing the propeller and left wing to strike the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies.
Factual narrative
On June 22, 2009, at 1430 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N2320P, operated by the Office of Homeland Security and piloted by a airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when the airplane ground looped during landing roll at Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport (E38), Alpine, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The public use flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane received minor injuries. The flight originated at Alpine, Texas, approximately 1345. According to the pilot, he configured the airplane for a crosswind landing with the application of left aileron and right rudder. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear then bounced and became airborne again. The pilot added power to prepare for a three point landing. The airplane touched down again and immediately veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder and added full power for a go-around. The pilot failed to regain control and the airplane spun 180 degrees off the right side of the runway. The airplane’s left main gear collapsed, causing the propeller and left wing to strike the ground. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2320P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8109015
- Airframe hours
- 10,729
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Operator
- Dept. of Homeland Security
- Registered owner
- Dept. of Homeland Security
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 28, 2009 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- E38 · Alpine, TX
- Destination
- E38 · Alpine, TX
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- E38 · Alpine - Casparis Muni, runway 19, 6,003 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 18, 2009
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,365 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,758 as pilot in command · 96 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- E38
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2320P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.