# NTSB ERA09CA364: Piper L-21B, N10365, Big Beaver, PA, June 22, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2009, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Big Beaver, PA - Coordinates: 40.772894, -80.391916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7729&lon=-80.3919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74110/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74110 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA364 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a landing rollout with a crosswind. ## 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 L-21B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101815), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper L-21B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101815), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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 L-21B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101815), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper L-21B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101815), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper L-21B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101815), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on Runway 28. During the rollout, the airplane became "erratic for no apparent reason," veered off the left side of the runway, encountered standing water in the grass and nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer. Runway 28 was 4,501 feet long and 100 feet wide. Winds, recorded at the airport 17 minutes after the accident, were from 360 degrees true at 12 knots. A postflight examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on runway 28. During the rollout, the airplane became "erratic for no apparent reason," veered off the left side of the runway, encountered standing water in the grass and nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer. Runway 28 was 4,501-feet-long and 100-feet-wide. Winds, recorded at the airport 17 minutes after the accident, were from 360 degrees true at 12 knots. A postflight examination of the airplane revealed no preexisiting mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10365](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10365), registered now, S/N 54-2533, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER L-21B - Registry model: [Piper L-21B](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-l-21b) (registry code 7101815) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 54-2533 - Airframe hours: 2930 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Air Heritage Inc - Registered owner: Air Heritage Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2009 - Departed: JST, Johnstown, PA - Destination: BVI, Beaver Falls, PA - Airport: BVI, Beaver County Airport, runway 28, 4,501 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review July 28, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 3,528 total, 32 in this make and model, 3,206 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: BVI ## 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 20090622012759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090622012759A), Jun 22, 2009: Piper L21B, Beaver Falls, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he ground looped the Piper L-21B while landing on runway 28 at the Beaver County Airport (bvi). Winds were 360 degrees at 9 knots; a… ## Other investigations on N10365 (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN11CA611](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA611), Aug 31, 2011: Piper L-21B (N10365), East Liverpool, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74110. 490 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 464 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.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.