# NTSB ERA14CA139: Piper PA 11S, N5556H, Marlboro, MA, March 1, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 1, 2014, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Marlboro, MA - Coordinates: 42.343055, -71.508888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3431&lon=-71.5089&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88866 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88866/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88866 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing rollout in crosswinds, resulting in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with a snow bank. ## 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-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101104), [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-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=7101104), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101104), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=7101104), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/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-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101104), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was regaining his 90-day passenger-carrying privileges since his most recent flight was about 5 months prior to the accident. He had performed one landing successfully, and on the second landing, the airplane touched down on all three wheels and was decelerating. The airplane subsequently veered to the left, departed the left side of the runway, struck a snowbank, and came to rest resulting in substantial damage to the wing strut, firewall, and fuselage. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the wind was from the left at 5 to 10 knots and occasionally was gusting to 15 knots. He also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was regaining his 90-day passenger-carrying privileges since his most recent flight was about 5 months prior to the accident. He had performed one landing successfully, and on the second landing, the airplane touched down on all three wheels and was decelerating. The airplane subsequently veered to the left, departed the left side of the runway, struck a snowbank, and came to rest resulting in substantial damage to the wing strut, firewall, and fuselage. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the wind was from the left at 5 to 10 knots and occasionally was gusting to 15 knots. He also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5556H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5556H), registered now, S/N 11-1067 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 11S - Registry model: [Piper PA-11S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11s) (registry code 7101104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-1067 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 2378 - Engines: Continental C90-8F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 9, 2014 - Departed: 9B1, Marlboro, MA - Destination: 9B1, Marlboro, MA - Airport: 9B1, Marlboro, runway 32, 1,659 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,639 total, 8 in this make and model, 6,393 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KBED, 12 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 20140301001289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140301001289A), Mar 1, 2014: Piper PA-11S, Marlboro, MA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on runway 32 with winds gusting 15 KTS and steady 8 - 10 KTS. Upon touchdown the aircraft veered off to the left side of runway with propeller… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88866. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot and Witness Written Statements (item 2, .PDF, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20and%20Witness%20Written%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Email From Owner on Annual Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20From%20Owner%20on%20Annual%20Inspection-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Bedford Weather (item 4, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Bedford%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1. View of Left Wing Strut Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20View%20of%20Left%20Wing%20Strut%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of Damage to Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 437 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20View%20of%20Damage%20to%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.