# NTSB ERA25LA015: Aviat A1, N79HY, Rowlesburg, WV, October 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 11, 2024, 18:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Rowlesburg, WV - Coordinates: 39.325622, -79.662111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3256&lon=-79.6621&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): 195314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195314/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195314 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in the on-ground collision with trees. ## 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: [Aviat A-1B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210406), [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: [Aviat A-1B, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210406), [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: [Aviat A-1B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210406), [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: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern on the downwind leg and turned onto the base and final legs for runway 31 with wind from 260° at 5 knots. A witness observed and the pilot reported a normal landing, with the airplane touching down an estimated 300 to 400 ft down the runway. The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane bounced about 3 ft then touched back down and then, with no brakes applied, the airplane began veering to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder and right brake but the veer to the left continued and the airplane impacted trees on the left side of the runway. The pilot informed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector that he had not noticed any tendencies for the airplane to pull left during landings on previous flights. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a FAA airworthiness inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. A check of the flight controls revealed they appeared to be intact and functioning properly. A check of the brakes was performed with no discrepancies noted. A detailed examination of the tail wheel assembly, which was installed in accordance with a supplemental type certificate, revealed it was installed in accordance with the installation requirements, with proper left and right steering springs installed and tensioned. A discrepancy with the tailwheel leaf spring not being centered was noted, but the airplane manufacturer representative reported to the FAA inspector that condition would have negligible effect on taxi operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79HY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79HY), registered now, S/N 2289, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT A1 (B) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2289 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 911 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2024, 29 hours before - Departed: 2A1, Jamestown, TN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 56WV, Cheat River Island Airport, runway 31, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 429 total, 368 in this make and model, 382 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KMGW, 22 nm away - METAR: KMGW 112253Z 20004KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP210 T01780039 ## 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 20241011016559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241011016559A), Oct 11, 2024: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Rowlesburg, WV, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed rwy 31. Aircraft veered left during roll out. Pilot lost control resulting in aircraft substaining sustantial damage to RH wing after contact… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195314. 13.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17816741&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N79HY%206120.1%2010-18-2024_Recd%2010%2018%202024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversations (item 2, PDF, 12 pages, 1 photo, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18577778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations_12%20Pgs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18874257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20Fm%20Maintenance%20Records_3%20Pgs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17816130&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wx%20Reports%20and%20Records-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18874267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 594 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18577245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-3%20Pgs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 461 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18652041&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_ERA25LA015_Redacted-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.