CEN20CA161

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA 20 · Colorado Springs, CO · April 26, 2020

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 26, 2020, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
Place
Colorado Springs, CO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1598APiper PA 20
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20200426010489A
Case key
101211

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The flight instructor's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilotPiper PA-20: 25 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-20: 20 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-20: 4 casesAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, while demonstrating a three-point, full-stall landing with a 4-knot right-quartering crosswind, the airplane bounced slightly but that it "seemed minor and controllable." The airplane touched down again, and he pulled the yoke further aft, which resulted in another small bounce. Once the airplane was on the runway, he pulled the yoke full aft, and the airplane immediately veered right off the runway. The instructor attempted to correct by applying full left rudder to no avail. The left wingtip and nose struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. A Federal Aviation Administer inspector and the pilot examined the airplane and found no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he attempted a three-point, full stall landing, with a right-quartering crosswind of about 4 knots. During the touchdown there was a small bounce which the flight instructor described as minor and controllable. The airplane touched down again, and he applied further aft yoke which resulted in another small bounce and final touchdown. Once the airplane was on the runway, he applied full aft yoke, and the airplane immediately veered to the right and exited the runway. The flight instructor attempted to correct with full left rudder, but the airplane exited the right side of the runway and contacted terrain with the left wingtip and nose. The airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron. Examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N1598A
Reported as
Piper PA 20 (Undesignat)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
20-836
Built
1952
Airframe hours
2,381.4
Engine
Lycoming O-290, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 6, 2019
Departed
FLY · Colorado Springs, CO
Destination
FLY · Colorado Springs, CO
Airport
FLY · Meadow Lake, runway 15, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt
Equipment
None

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
48
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 22, 2019
Seat
Right
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
3,658 total · 0.5 in this make and model · 3,297 as pilot in command · 109 in the last 90 days · 0.5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F
Altimeter
30.05 inHg
Observed at
FLY

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.