# NTSB ERA09CA475: Piper PA-22, N1415A, Tuskegee, AL, August 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 23, 2009, 12:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Tuskegee, AL - Coordinates: 32.460556, -85.68 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4606&lon=-85.6800&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA475 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74574/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74574 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA475 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the aborted landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/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-22, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the completion of a cross country flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 31. The pilot was advised via the airport Unicom frequency that the winds were unpredictable, and observed that “the windsock indicated little if any wind.” After the flare for landing on the 5,003-foot-long by 100-foot-wide asphalt runway, the tail-wheel-equipped airplane "weathervaned" to the right. The pilot then decided to abort the landing; however the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a berm, resulting in serious injury to the pilot and substantial damage to the airplane. Winds recorded 16 nautical miles northeast of the airport were aligned with the runway heading at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. Another airport located 31 nautical miles northwest recorded winds at 330 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 19 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector found skid marks from both tires on the runway surface and he noted that the airplane sustained damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and wings. ## Factual narrative At the completion of a cross country flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 31. The pilot was advised via the airport Unicom frequency that the winds were unpredictable, and observed that “the windsock indicated little if any wind.” After the flare for landing on the 5,003-foot-long by 100-foot-wide asphalt runway, the tail-wheel-equipped airplane "weathervaned" to the right. The pilot then decided to abort the landing; however the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a berm, resulting in serious injury to the pilot and substantial damage to the airplane. Winds recorded 16 nautical miles northeast of the airport were aligned with the runway heading at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. Another airport located 31 nautical miles northwest recorded winds at 330 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 19 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector found skid marks from both tires on the runway surface and he noted that the airplane sustained damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1415A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1415A), registered now, S/N 22-326, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (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: 22-326 - Airframe hours: 1599 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 C2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2009, 8 hours before - Departed: LA87, Covington, LA - Destination: 06A, Tuskegee, AL - Airport: 06A, Moton Field Municipal Airport, runway 31, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: AUO, 16 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090823048929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090823048929A), Aug 23, 2009: Piper PA-22, Tuskegee, AL, Substantial damage. On August 23, 2009, aircraft N1415A departed runway 31 while landing at Moton Field Municipal Airport (06A) in Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon departure from the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74574. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Reports - Auburn-Opelika Pitts Airport (item 3, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20-%20Auburn-Opelika%20Pitts%20Airport-Master.PDF - Weather Reports - Russell Field Airport (item 4, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20-%20Russell%20Field%20Airport-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Showing Wrinkling of the Upper Fuselage and Damage to the Wing Attach Points. (item 5, .PDF, 472 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Showing%20Wrinkling%20of%20the%20Upper%20Fuselage%20and%20Damage%20to%20the%20Wing%20Attach%20Points.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Showing Damage to the Fuselage Near to the Left Main Gear. (item 6, .PDF, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Showing%20Damage%20to%20the%20Fuselage%20Near%20to%20the%20Left%20Main%20Gear.-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.