# NTSB CEN20CA222: Piper PA 15, N4123H, Lancaster, TX, June 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 7, 2020, 19:30 local (Jun 8, 2020, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, TX - Coordinates: 32.580554, -96.720558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5806&lon=-96.7206&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101411/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101411 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA222 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101502), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he was acting as a safety pilot for the newly certificated pilot, who was getting familiar with the airplane. They had flow five or six circuits around the traffic pattern and subsequently landed on runway 13. When the airplane was just above taxi speed, it began drifting to the right. The pilot used full left rudder and "stomped on the brake." The airplane veered to the left and then the right wingtip contacted the ground. The outboard one-quarter of the right wing was crumpled and the right main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4123H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4123H), registered now, S/N 15-6 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 15 (No Series) - Registry model: [Piper PA-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (registry code 7101502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15-6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LNC, Lancaster, TX - Destination: LNC, Lancaster, TX - Airport: LNC, Lancaster Rgnl, runway 13, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 150 total, 3 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.59 inHg - Observed at: KLNC ## 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 20200608008109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200608008109A), Jun 8, 2020: Piper PA-15, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. The accident flight was conducted by a newly certificated private pilot with tail wheel endorsement. The pilot was practicing take offs and landings, staying… ## Other investigations on N4123H (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 FTW80FQA39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQA39), Sep 14, 1980: Piper PA-15 (N4123H), Fort Sumner, NM, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101411. 2.7 MB in all. - Flight Instructor Statement (item 1, .PDF, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.