# NTSB CEN24LA055: Piper PA-30, N7790Y, Alamosa, CO, December 6, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 6, 2023, 14:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Alamosa, CO - Coordinates: 37.435125, -105.86787 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4351&lon=-105.8679&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: Federal Aviation Administration, Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193486 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193486/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193486 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with an excessive touchdown speed that resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. ## 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-30, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the personal flight stated that he was the flying pilot and was seated in the right pilot seat with a passenger rated pilot seated in the left pilot seat. The pilot stated during landing that perhaps the airplane bounced. The airplane was right of the runway centerline and not pointed down the runway. The pilot stated that he corrected to the left and the airplane skidded off the runway and into a dirt area. The airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the left wing. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data showed that the airplane crossed the runway approach end with a ground speed of approximately 113 kts during calm wind conditions. The airplane’s ground speed was approximately 70 kts about 4,000 ft down the runway when it began to veer off the runway. The Piper Aircraft PA-30 Owner’s Handbook states that the final approach speed for the airplane is 100 mph (86.9 kts). The bounce during landing was consistent with an excessive touchdown speed after a final approach flown at a speed higher than that specified for the airplane. The pilot stated that was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7790Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7790Y), registered now, S/N 30-146, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-146 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3789 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Zulu Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ALS, San Luis Valley Regional Airport/Bergman Field, runway 2, 8,521 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2023; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 16,100 total, 250 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: ALS ## 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 20231206020279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231206020279A), Dec 6, 2023: Piper PA-30, Alamosa, CO, Substantial damage. On 12/06/2023 a Piper PA30 veered off the right side of runway 02 at san Luis valley regional airport. The event occurred approximately 4,000 feet past the end… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193486. 109 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16562461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Google earth plot of flight (item 2, KMZ, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16562801&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20231206_AA8CE5_535088794-Rel.kmz - Adsb playback of accident approach and landing (item 3, MOV, 106 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16562632&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_0223-Rel.MOV - Twin commanche PA30 ownera��s handbook (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16562471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Twin%20Commanche%20PA30%20Owner%E2%80%99s%20Handbook%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16566744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.