# NTSB CEN10CA454: Piper PA-36-285, N57706, Petersburg, TX, July 29, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2010, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Petersburg, TX - Coordinates: 33.873611, -101.541946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8736&lon=-101.5419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA454 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76818/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76818 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA454 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a signpost during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during an agricultural aerial application pass underneath electrical wires, the airplane’s right main landing gear collided with a signpost and was "torn off." The pilot then flew the airplane back to his base of operations. During the landing, without the right main landing gear, the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane spun around 180 degrees before coming to rest in the upright position. The pilot was not injured; however, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing during the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during an agricultural aerial application run underneath electrical wires, the airplane’s right main landing gear collided with a signpost and was “torn off”. The pilot then flew the airplane back to his base of operations. During the landing, without the right main landing gear, the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane spun around 180-degrees before coming to rest in the upright position. The pilot was not injured; however, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57706](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57706-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 36-7660032 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36-285 - Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-7660032 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Bertrand Spraying LLC - Registered owner: Bertrand Spraying LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Petersburg, TX - Destination: Floydada, TX - Airport: Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2010; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KPVW, 22 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 20100729039749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100729039749A), Jul 29, 2010: Piper PA-36-285, Petersburg, TX, Substantial damage. On 07-29-2010, at approximately 13:00CDT, the pilot of N57706, a PA-36-285, was conducting low level agricultural aerial application operations in floydada,… ## Other investigations on N57706 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC90LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA132), Jun 16, 1990: Piper PA-36-400 (N57706), Altheimer, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS NOT CONSIDERED AND SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76818. 721 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 701 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.