# NTSB CEN22LA161: Piper PA-25-235, N7523Z, Benton, AR, March 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 26, 2022, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Benton, AR - Coordinates: 34.5878, -92.4841 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5878&lon=-92.4841&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 104863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104863/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104863 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102504), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot planned to complete two takeoffs and landings (touch-and-goes) followed by a full stop landing. He executed a go-around and a touch-and-go before the accident landing. After the airplane touched down during the accident landing, the airplane tail began to settle to the runway. The pilot responded by pulling the control stick aft. About 2-3 seconds later, the airplane began to pitch up and bank to the right. At that point, the pilot “realized that [he] was behind the aircraft.” He attempted to execute a go-around but lost control of the airplane, resulting in a runway excursion. The airplane came to rest in a ditch off the right side of the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7523Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7523Z), registered now, S/N 25-3564, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-3564 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 7621 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2022, 2 hours before - Departed: PVT, Calvin, OK - Destination: SUZ, Benton, AR - Airport: KSUZ, Saline County, runway 2, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 28, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 276 total, 2 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KSUZ, 230 nm away - METAR: METAR KSUZ 261955Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM CLR 21/M05 A3005 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104863. 8.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 17 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13678801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN22LA161_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13710418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20--%20CEN22LA161-Rel.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.