# NTSB ERA23LA032: Howard DGA-15P, N63597, Lawrenceburg, TN, October 14, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 14, 2022, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceburg, TN - Coordinates: 35.236008, -87.258489 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2360&lon=-87.2585&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: 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): 106172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106172/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106172 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions. ## 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: [Howard DGA-15P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=4690506), [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: [Howard DGA-15P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Howard DGA-15P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=4690506), [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: [Howard DGA-15P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis While enroute to the destination, the pilot noted moderate turbulence and decided to land and wait until the turbulence decreased. During the first landing attempt, there was turbulence and the pilot elected to perform a abort the landing after the airplane touched down briefly. After the second landing, during the landing roll, a gust of wind raised the right wing resulting in the airplane veering to the right. The pilot applied power to increase the airflow over the rudder and recenter the airplane, however the airplane was drifting to the left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and right elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63597](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63597), registered now, S/N 1830, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOWARD AIRCRAFT DGA-15P - Registry model: [Howard DGA-15P](https://openairdocs.org/model/howard-dga-15p) (registry code 4690506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-an-6) (registry code 51648, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1830 - Year built: 1944 - Airframe hours: 796.9 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-6 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2021 - Departed: KTHA, Tullahoma, TN - Destination: 2M8, Millington, TN - Airport: 2M2, Lawrenceburg-Lawrence County, runway 17, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,370 total, 294 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 33.5 in the last 90 days, 5.5 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MRC, 19 nm away - METAR: KMRC 142010Z AUTO 24011G18KT 10SM CLR 24/M04 A2987 RMK A01 ## 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 20221014017929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221014017929A), Oct 14, 2022: Howard Aircraft DGA-15P, Lawrenceburg, TN, Substantial damage. On landing ground roll a wind gust lifted the right wing. During correction the left wheel left the hard surface with a side load which broke the left tie… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106172. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14621051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA032%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14621614&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.