# NTSB ERA17LA225: Piper PA 15, N4195H, Farmville, VA, July 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2017, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Farmville, VA · Tall, nearly mature corn - Coordinates: 37.243185, -78.529798 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2432&lon=-78.5298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95492/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95492 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA225 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to depart from an unsuitable off-airport surface which resulted in his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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-15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the cross-country flight, the pilot performed a precautionary landing in a field due to a possible fuel flow issue. After determining that fuel was flowing to the engine, the pilot attempted to depart from the field, which was covered in high vegetation. The pilot reported that the condition of the field resulted in inadequate airspeed to climb out and clear the trees at the end of the field. The pilot initiated a turn, during which he exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane cartwheeled. It came to rest upright, in the field and was destroyed by a postcrash fire. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2017, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-15, N4195H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Farmville, Virginia. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. In a statement provided to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he purchased the airplane the day before the accident and was flying back to his home airport when he made a precautionary landing in a field due to a possible fuel transfer issue. After troubleshooting and confirming fuel flow to the engine, he attempted to take off from the field. The pilot reported that, due to the high vegetation, the airplane was "not able to get enough airspeed to climb out and clear the trees at the end of the field." The pilot initiated a turn, which resulted in a low altitude stall. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest upright in a corn field. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed it came to rest in a corn field and was consumed by an extensive postcrash fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4195H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4195H-2020-12-05), registration cancelled 2020-12-05, S/N 15-78, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 15 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (registry code 7101502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15-78 - Year built: 1948 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Philip Cianciolo - Registered owner: Philip Cianciolo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Farmville, VA - Destination: FDK, FREDERICK, MD - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FVX, 9 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 20170703009879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170703009879A), Jul 3, 2017: Piper PA-15, Farmville, VA, Destroyed. Pilot made an unscheduled precautionary landing in a field due to a suspected fuel transfer issue. Pilot verified fuel was present and decided to take off.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95492. 4.1 MB in all. - FAA inspector's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11852649&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11668879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - 6120.1 form (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11669840&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Request%20for%206120-Rel.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.