# NTSB CEN11CA217: Piper PA-22-108, N4571Z, Lockhart, TX, March 7, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 7, 2011, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Lockhart, TX
- Coordinates: 29.869457, -97.670326 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8695&lon=-97.6703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78516
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA217
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78516/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78516
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA217

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Local law enforcement reported that several witnesses observed an airplane, matching the description of the accident airplane, flying low over homes and automobiles on the afternoon of the accident. Later, the wreckage was discovered just west of the airport property. The airplane had impacted trees and came to rest inverted. The empennage was bent and twisted 180 degrees beneath the fuselage and wings. An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no mechanical anomalies.

## Factual narrative

Local law enforcement reported that several witnesses observed an airplane, matching the description of the accident airplane, buzzing homes and automobiles on the afternoon of the accident. Later, the airplane accident site was discovered just west of the airport property. The airplane had impacted trees and came to rest inverted. The empennage was bent and twisted 180 degrees beneath the fuselage and wings. An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no mechanical anomalies. Attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4571Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4571Z-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 22-8080, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-108
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-8080
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 50R, Lockhart, TX
- Destination: 50R, Lockhart, TX
- Airport: 50R, Lockhart Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KHYI, 10 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 20110307004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110307004979A), Mar 7, 2011: Piper PA-22-108, Lockhart, TX, Destroyed. Pilot departed 50R in an unregistered aircraft, reportly flying 300 feet and below around town, aircraft struck trees and impacted ground, aircraft destroyed…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78516. 763 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation - CEN11CA217 (item 1, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20CEN11CA217-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Accident Report Photograph - CEN11CA217 (item 3, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photograph%20-%20CEN11CA217-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.