# NTSB DFW08CA141: Piper PA-30, N8511Y, Houston, TX, May 12, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 12, 2008, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.604444, -95.155281
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6044&lon=-95.1553&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68005/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA141

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing.  A contributing factor was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

## 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)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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-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 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)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, as he landing the multi-engine airplane, the airplane suddenly turned to the left, towards the edge of the runway.  The pilot added that he and the flight instructor tried to correct the problem by adding rudder.  Subsequently, the airplane's wing lifted and the airplane began to "wheelbarrow" on the nose landing gear.  The pilot added that as he and the instructor tried to regain control, the airplane's left and right landing gear collapsed.  The airplane came to rest on its belly, in the grass on the east side of the runway.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, as he was landing the multi-engine airplane, the airplane suddenly turned to the left, towards the edge of the runway.  The pilot added that he and the flight instructor tried to correct the problem by adding rudder.  Subsequently, the airplane's wing lifted and the airplane began to "wheelbarrow" on the nose landing gear.  The pilot added that as he and the instructor tried to regain control, the airplane's left and right landing gear collapsed.  The airplane came to rest on its belly, in the grass on the east side of the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8511Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8511Y-2008-09-05), registration cancelled 2008-09-05, S/N 30-1670, built 1967 (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: 30-1670
- Airframe hours: 2505
- Engines: Lycoming IO-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2007
- Departed: SGR, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: EFD, HOUSTON, TX
- Airport: EFD, Ellington Field, runway 17R, 9,001 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 2,070 total, 140 in this make and model, 1,916 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 144 total, 73 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KEFD

## 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 20080512833659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080512833659A), May 12, 2008: Piper PA30, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The owner of a Piper PA-30 twin comanche was landing on runway 17R at Ellington Field, Houston Texas, with his CFI onboard. Upon touchdown and roll-out…

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.

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