# NTSB ERA23LA343: Piper PA-17, N4814H, Millbrook, NY, August 21, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 21, 2023, 09:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Millbrook, NY - Coordinates: 41.707424, -73.738022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7074&lon=-73.7380&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): 192904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192904/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192904 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA343 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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-17, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101702), [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-17, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101702), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101702), [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-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the vintage, tailwheel-equipped airplane. As he touched down on the paved runway that had slight downhill, the pilot described that he “tapped” the brakes, and the right brake “grabbed a little harder than the left.” The pilot attempted to correct with rudder but the airplane ground looped after the right main landing gear separated from the fuselage. The airplane came to rest in the grass area next to the runway. During the accident sequence, the left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident did not observe any abnormalities of the airplane’s brakes. Based on the lack of any anomalous findings during the postaccident examination of the brakes, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4814H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4814H), registered now, S/N 17-112, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-17 - Registry model: [Piper PA-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17) (registry code 7101702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17-112 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 5474 - Engines: Continental C-85-8 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2022 - Departed: POU, Poughkeepsie, NY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 44N, Sky Acres, runway 35, 3,828 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 486 total, 74 in this make and model, 330 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: POU, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KPOU 211353Z 00000KT 10SM SCT090 24/18 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02390183= ## 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 20230821021939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230821021939A), Aug 21, 2023: Piper PA-17, Lagrangeville, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot diverted from origianal destination fluton county airport to 44N due to high headwinds. Pilot stated, " his approch was normal, overflew the field and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192904. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot's original statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16414592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%20Original%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16414741&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16414321&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_FAA%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16413879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Accident%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.