# NTSB CEN23LA378: Piper J4, N6581H, Cleburne, TX, August 22, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 22, 2023, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Cleburne, TX
- Coordinates: 32.35375, -97.43375
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3537&lon=-97.4338&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: 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 North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192926
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA378
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192926/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192926
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA378

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.

## 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 J4A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7100604), [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 J4A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7100604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7100604), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper J4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7100604), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J4A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7100604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper J4A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7100604), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While landing to runway 15 in gusty wind conditions, the pilot lost control of the tailwheel equipped airplane, it nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and lift strut. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures which would have precluded normal operation. The wind at the time of the accident was 100° at 13 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The calculated crosswind component was between 10 and 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6581H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6581H), registered now, S/N 4-831, built 1939 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J4 (A)
- Registry model: [Piper J4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j4a) (registry code 7100604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4-831
- Year built: 1939
- Engines: Continental A50-1 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jones Michael Robert
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: CPT, Cleburne Regional Airport, runway 15, 5,697 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 240 total, 43 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KCPT
- METAR: METAR KCPT 222315Z AUTO 10013G20KT 10SM CLR 37/16 A2998 RMK A01=

## 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 20230822021699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230822021699A), Aug 22, 2023: Piper J4A, Cleburne, TX, Substantial damage. This part 91 flight terminated with an attempted wheel landing during windy conditions. The pilot reported upon landing, a gust of wind caused the tail of the…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192926. 1.6 MB in all.

- Record of conversation NTSB (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16663820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20of%20No%20Mechnical%20Problems-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16664154&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20with%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16664376&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%202-Rel.pdf
- Crosswind (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16664200&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=winds%202-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.