CHI07CA251

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-17 · Scribner, NE · July 20, 2007

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 20, 2007, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Scribner, NE
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4802HPiper PA-17
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 31, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-Lincoln FSDO
FAA report
20070720015069A
Case key
66552

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

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the gusting crosswind condition.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Terrain condition - ground
Gear collapsedLanding
Landing gear - overload

Analysis

The pilot lost control during landing on runway 17 (4,200 feet by 75 feet, concrete). The pilot stated that upon return from a local flight he noticed that the prevailing east wind had increased and he selected runway 17 for landing. He reported the airplane touched down; however, it lifted off again. He stated, "When it came down the second time [it] wasn't in line with the runway because of the strong east wind." He applied full rudder and subsequently right brake but was unable to regain control. He reported that application of the brake may have been excessive. The landing gear collapsed substantially damaging the airframe. The pilot noted, "The 20 -25 mph wind from the east was too much for me that day." The pilot reported winds from 090 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots, at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when the pilot lost control during landing on runway 17 (4,200 feet by 75 feet, concrete) and the landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated that upon return from a local flight he noticed that the prevailing east wind had increased and he selected runway 17 for landing. He reported the airplane touched down, however, it lifted off again. He stated: "When it came down the second time [it] wasn't in line with the runway because of the strong east wind." He applied full rudder and subsequently right brake but was unable to regain control. He reported that application of the brake may have been excessive. The landing gear collapsed substantially damaging the airframe. The pilot noted: "The 20 -25 mph wind from the east was too much for me that day." The pilot reported winds from 090 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots, at the time of the accident. Weather conditions were not recorded at the accident airport. At 1330, wind conditions recorded at a nearby airport located 11 miles southeast of the accident airport, were from 100 degrees at 8 knots. At 1350, recorded winds were from 120 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. Federal Aviation Administration records indicated that the pilot had been denied an airman medical certificate in September 1990. His commercial pilot certificate had subsequently been revoked due to operating an aircraft without a valid medical certificate.

Aircraft

Registration
N4802H
Reported as
Piper PA-17
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17-100
Airframe hours
2,600
Engine
Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2006
Departed
SCB · Scribner, NE
Airport
SCB · Scribner State, runway 17, 4,200 × 75 ft, concrete

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
Pilot
Age
64
Injuries
None
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,000 total · 800 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
100° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
FET, 11 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N4802H · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.