# NTSB ERA20CA248: Piper PA22, N8103C, Culpeper, VA, July 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2020, 10:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Culpeper, VA - Coordinates: 38.525554, -77.859725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5256&lon=-77.8597&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101593/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101593 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA248 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on landing resulting in a runway excursion and subsequent ground loop. Contributing to the outcome were the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial actions. ## 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-22-135, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102206), [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-22-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/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-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot/owner had recently purchased the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and while he had prior experience flying other tailwheel airplanes and had no prior experience in the accident airplane make and model. The purpose of accident flight was to gain experience while flying with a flight instructor. The pilot was flying in the left seat, which was the only seat equipped with wheel brakes, and the flight instructor was flying in the right seat. After an uneventful flight in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot approached the runway and touched down on the main landing gear. Shortly after the tailwheel touched down the airplane began drifting to the left. The pilot’s rudder inputs were ineffective in correcting the drift and the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. The flight instructor reported that as he applied right rudder, the pilot applied braking forces that neutralized the flight instructor’s rudder inputs. The pilot eventually let go of the brakes after the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and with full right rudder still being applied by the flight instructor, the airplane veered back onto the runway. The airplane subsequently ground looped and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing and the fuselage were substantially damaged. Neither pilot reported any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8103C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8103C-2021-06-03), registration cancelled 2021-06-03, S/N 22-2249, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA22 (135) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (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: 22-2249 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 4285 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 SERIES 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Richard S. Simpson - Registered owner: Richard S. Simpson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2019 - Departed: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Destination: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Airport: CJR, Culpeper Rgnl, runway 04, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 6, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 510 total, 1 in this make and model, 435 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2019; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,200 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: CJR, 1 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 20200710007949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200710007949A), Jul 10, 2020: Piper PA-22-135, Brandy Station, VA, Substantial damage. After landing at Culpeper airport (cjr), during role out N8103C started to drift to the left of runway center line, and a ground loop was induced. Pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101593. 7.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9965767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20%20Accident%20Report%20and%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot and FAA (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9966370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot%20and%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9965913&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.