# NTSB CEN11CA288: Piper PA-30, N171ST, Austin, TX, April 12, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 12, 2011, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Austin, TX
- Coordinates: 30.194444, -97.669723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1944&lon=-97.6697&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: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA288
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78876/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78876
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA288

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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: [Piper PA-30, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103002), [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-30, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he lost directional control of the airplane while landing. He said that the airplane exited the side of the runway, and impacted several signs. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in an upright, nose down position. The airplane’s right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot said that prior to touchdown the airplane encountered a gust of wind. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

Following a cross-country flight, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane while landing, exited the side of the runway, and impacting several signs. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in an upright; nose down position. The airplane's right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. Eight minutes after the accident, the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at the accident airport reported, winds variable at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the winds were variable, but before touchdown a gust of wind impacted the airplane, resulting in a misaligned landing. The pilot further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N171ST](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171ST-2012-08-22), registration cancelled 2012-08-22, S/N 30-1195, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1195
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SHV, Shreveport, LA
- Destination: AUS, Austin, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AUS, Austin-Bergstrom International, runway 17L, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 40 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: AUS

## 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 20110412005599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110412005599A), Apr 12, 2011: Piper PA-30, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. On April 12, 2011, a Piper PA-30 was cleared to land on rwy 17L in aus airport. During touchdown the aircraft was observed veering off the runway to the west…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78876. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.