# NTSB ERA10LA345: Piper PA-25-235, N9809P, Fairfield, PA, July 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2010, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, PA - Coordinates: 39.779319, -77.36071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7793&lon=-77.3607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); [Standing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76516/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76516 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA345 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot's improper touchdown point which resulted in an overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Standing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The pilot of the tow plane had just completed his third glider tow and landed. Witnesses observed the airplane touchdown further down the landing area than was typical and noted that the approach appeared to be very high and fast. During the landing roll, the pilot intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid colliding with people and other obstacles at the end of the landing area. The tow plane impacted a stationary glider positioned to be launched on the runway. The glider's left wing and rudder incurred substantial damage, as did the tow plane's right wing and horizontal stabilizer. A postaccident examination revealed that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On July 3, 2010, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N9809P, operated by the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association, collided with a stationary Schleicher ASW-27 glider, N747GW, while landing at the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center (W73), Fairfield, Pennsylvania. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the glider, operated by a private individual, also incurred substantial damage. Neither pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. According to the pilot of the airplane, he had just completed his third glider tow and was returning to land in a northwesterly direction on the grass between runway 15/33 and a service road. After touchdown, he “was unable to achieve braking." There were people and a truck with a trailer at the end of the landing area, so the pilot intentionally ground looped the airplane to prevent running into them. During the ground loop, the airplane turned sharply to the left and impacted the glider, which was awaiting launch on runway 15. The leading edge of the airplane’s right wing and its horizontal stabilizer were both substantially damaged. The glider pilot stated that the airplane “appeared to be landing long” before turning towards the glider. The airplane impacted the glider from behind the left wing, forcing it off the runway. Several feet of the glider’s left wing were separated on impact by the airplane’s propeller and its rudder was cut in half. Witnesses to the accident observed that the airplane was “very high and fast” on its approach, and landed “much further down” the grass strip than typical. One witness stated that he “was fully expecting a go-around… (but) it became evident that the tow plane had neither the space to stop, nor the space to safely clear ground support personnel if it tried to go around.” A post-accident inspection of the airplane performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no mechanical abnormalities with the airplane’s brake system. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9809P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9809P), registered now, S/N 25-7556123, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-7556123 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W73, Fairfield, PA - Destination: W73, Fairfield, PA - Airport: W73, Mid Atlantic Soaring Center ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N747GW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-27 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 27230 - Airframe hours: 641 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pixton David H - Registered owner: Pixton David H - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2009 - Departed: W73, Fairfield, PA - Destination: W73, Fairfield, PA - Airport: W73, Mid Atlantic Soaring Center, runway 15, 2,700 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9809P; age 84; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 11,284 total, 209 in this make and model, 11,284 as pilot in command - Pilot, aircraft N747GW; age 63; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 3,909 total, 391 in this make and model, 3,837 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: HGR ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100703039052A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100703039052A), Jul 3, 2010: Piper PA-25-235, Fairfield, PA, Substantial damage. During landing roll-out on runway 33RPILOT ground looped aircraft at runway departure end to avoid collision with spectators gathered at runway end and struck… - [Accident 20100703039062A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100703039062A), Jul 3, 2010: Schleicher ASW-27, Fairfield, PA, Substantial damage. While parked and awaiting aerial tow at approach end of rwy 15 center, glider was struck on left wing and tail section by tow plane, being manuvered to avoid… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76516. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 588 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.