# NTSB CEN11CA677: Piper PA-22-108, N5934Z, Monte Vista, CO, September 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2011, 17:08 local (23:08 UTC) - Place: Monte Vista, CO - Coordinates: 37.528888, -106.040557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5289&lon=-106.0406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA677 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81947/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81947 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA677 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of control while landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he thought that a gust of wind caught the tailwheel-equipped airplane just before touchdown, resulting in the right main landing gear wheel hitting the runway hard, which drove the wheel hub up into the strut. The airplane ground looped and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing. After the accident, the pilot stated that, if he had recognized the wind gust sooner, he could have initiated a go-around. He also reported that, if he had known that the wheel hub broke during touchdown, he would have increased the throttle to keep the front of the airplane elevated. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was practicing landings in his tail wheeled airplane. The wind was calm and the first eight landings were normal. On the ninth landing, the pilot thought that a gust of wind caught the airplane just before touch down, resulting in the right wheel hitting the runway hard which drove the wheel hub up into the strut. The airplane subsequently ground looped and flipped over inverted. After the accident, the pilot stated that if he would have recognized the wind gust sooner, he could have initiated a go-around. He also reported that if he would have known that the wheel hub broke, he would have increased the throttle to keep the front of the airplane elevated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5934Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5934Z), registered now, S/N 22-9804 (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: 22-9804 - Airframe hours: 3360 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ensz Weston L - Registered owner: Ensz Weston L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 2011 - Departed: MVI, Monte Vista, CO - Destination: MVI, Monte Vista, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MVI, Monte Vista Municipal, runway 20, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 32 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20110904020889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110904020889A), Sep 4, 2011: Piper PA-22-108, Monte Vista, CO, Substantial damage. On September 04, 2011, at approximately 1708 MDT, a Piper PA-22-108, N5934Z, registered to the pilot in command sustained substantial damage while landing at… ## Other investigations on N5934Z (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 MIA65F0104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65F0104), May 12, 1965: Piper PA-22 (N5934Z), Ft Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81947. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361414&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.