# NTSB ERA12CA310: Piper PA-18-150, N91250, Burlington, NC, April 29, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 29, 2012, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, NC
- Coordinates: 36.042499, -79.471664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0425&lon=-79.4717&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83507
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA310
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83507/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83507
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA310

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to arrest the turn, but the airplane continued to the left, ran off the runway, and struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he landed the airplane and during the landing rollout, winds forced the airplane to veer to the left. He applied right rudder in an attempt to arrest the turn, but the airplane continued to the left, ran off the runway, and struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 130 degrees at 5 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91250](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91250), registered now, S/N 18-8209015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8209015
- Airframe hours: 675
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jacobelli Robert W
- Registered owner: Jacobelli Robert W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2011
- Departed: 59NC, Gibsonville, NC
- Destination: BUY, Burlington, NC
- Airport: BUY, Burlington Almance Regional, runway 24, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 260 total, 32 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: BUY

## 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 20120429006809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120429006809A), Apr 29, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Burlington, NC, Substantial damage. On Sunday, April 29, 2012, at approximately 18:00 EDT, a Piper PA-18-150, N91250 piloted by [privacy data omitted] landed on runway 24 at Burlington-alamance…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83507. 8.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum For Record: FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Weather Observations (KBUY) (item 4, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20(KBUY)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: View of Left Wing Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: View of Paint Transfer on Wing Strut (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20Paint%20Transfer%20on%20Wing%20Strut%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.