# NTSB CEN14LA086: Piper PA-22-108, N5386Z, Oscoda, MI, December 11, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 2013, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Oscoda, MI
- Coordinates: 44.420864, -83.329154 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4209&lon=-83.3292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88555/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88555
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA086

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s loss of control during landing in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land with gusting wind.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; 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)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed 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: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing: 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)

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting a second supervised solo flight after his flight instructor had checked the weather and released him for the flight. The student pilot reported that, during his first approach for a solo landing, the touchdown was normal, but that, a second or two after touchdown, the right wing lifted up. The airplane then veered left, and the student pilot applied right rudder. The airplane continued to veer left and began to nose over. The student applied full right aileron, but the airplane continued to nose over and subsequently impacted the runway surface. Recorded wind exceeded 10 knots gusting to above 20 knots about the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On December 11, 2013, at 1105 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-22-108, N5386Z, nosed-over and impacted runway 24 (11,800 feet by 200 feet, grooved asphalt) during landing at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (OSC), Oscoda, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and wing strut. The student pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to CAT Flight Training LLC and operated by an individual doing business as Comprehensive Aviation Training under 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the supervised student solo flight that originated from OSC at 1010. The flight instructor, who was also the operator, stated that a Flight Service Station weather briefing through 1-800- WXBRIEF for the flight was obtained at 0905. He and the student pilot departed Iosco County Airport (6D9) East Tawas, Michigan at 0915 and flew to OSC. The flight instructor stated that he released the student for his second supervised solo at 0950 after a check of the weather. The flight instructor stated that the winds were 250 degrees at 10 knots with similar forecasts by MBS International Airport (MBS), Saginaw, Michigan and Alpena County Regional Airport (APN), Alpena, Michigan. The student pilot stated that during his first approach for a solo landing at OSC, he listened to the OSC Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and it reported winds from 270 degrees at 11 knots, gusting 18 knots. He said that the winds were 250 degrees at 10 knots when he departed. He said that the landing had a normal touchdown, but a second or two after touchdown, the right wing lifted up. He saw the airplane nose veer left and applied right rudder. The airplane started to veer more left and began to nose-over. He applied full right aileron, but the airplane continued to nose-over and impacted the runway surface. There was one weather briefing requested by and provided to the student pilot on December 10, 2013, at 0903 for a training flight departing from 6DY to OSC. The student pilot advised that the departure time would be in 30 minutes with an estimated time en route of 2 hours. Lockheed Martin Flight Services did not provide a weather briefing for N5386Z on December 11, 2013. The Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) Amendment for APN, located 38 nautical miles northwest of OSC, issued on December 11, 2013, at 0820, valid from December 11, 2013 at 0800 to December 12, 2013 at 0700, stated in part, temporary conditions from 0800 to 1000: wind – 270 degrees at 11 knots, gust – 18 knots. The TAF for MBS, located 62.6 nautical miles south-southwest of OSC, issued on December 11, 2013, at 0632, valid from December 11, 2013 at 0700 to December 12, 2013 at 0700, stated in part, wind – 270 degrees at 14 knots. From 1100, wind – 290 degrees at 15 knots. The OSC AWOS recorded the following: At 0954: wind – 240 degrees at 11 knots At 1013: wind – 260 degrees at 12 knots At 1034: wind – 260 degrees at 15knots, gust 19 knots At 1054: wind – 270 degrees at 15 knots, gust 21 knots At 1113: wind – 270 degrees at 13 knots, gust 22 knots The operator reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5386Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5386Z), registered now, S/N 229154, 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: 229154
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 2475
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2013
- Departed: OSC, Oscoda, MI
- Destination: OSC, Oscoda, MI
- Airport: OSC, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, runway 24, 11,800 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 35 total, 20 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 5 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: OSC

## 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 20131211024309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131211024309A), Dec 11, 2013: Piper PA-22-108, Oscoda, MI, Substantial damage. During first supervised solo, student pilot attempted landing on runway 24 with gusting rt cross wind. At touchdown student attempted to arrest left roll by…

## Other investigations on N5386Z (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 MIA69D0186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69D0186), Sep 29, 1968: Piper PA-22 (N5386Z), Newberry, SC, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88555. 873 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 645 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.

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