# NTSB FTW95LA396: Piper PA-20, N7729K, Searcy, AR, September 13, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1995, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Searcy, AR
- Coordinates: 35.240825, -91.729553 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2408&lon=-91.7296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA396
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA396

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WINDS. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

FOLLOWING A SOLO STUDENT PRACTICE LESSON, THE PILOT MADE A TRAFFIC PATTERN ENTRY FOR A FULL STOP WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 19. THE INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS 70 MPH WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED 20 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS BANKED 10 DEGREES INTO THE WIND WHICH THE PILOT REPORTED AS 10 KNOTS FROM THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT WHEEL TOUCHED THE RUNWAY FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT WHEEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED AS A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED WITH STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS.

## Factual narrative

On September 13, 1995, at 1330 central daylight time, a Piper  PA-20S-135, N7729K, groundlooped while landing at Searcy, Arkansas.  The solo student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The airplane was being operated under Title 14, CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight for which no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator report, the pilot reported the following information.  During a traffic pattern entry, the pilot set "up for a wheel landing" on runway 19.  The indicated airspeed of the airplane was 70 mph with the flaps extended 20 degrees and the bank angle "about 10 degrees to the right because of the crosswind."  The pilot reported the winds from 270 degrees at 10 knots.  During the landing flare/touchdown, "the right main wheel touched down first and my speed decreased."  The "left wheel came down, then I was struck by a gust from the right."  Subsequently, the airplane groundlooped and came to rest inverted.  Wing structural damage was reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7729K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7729K-2000-10-20), registration cancelled 2000-10-20, S/N 20-551 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20-551
- Airframe hours: 1460
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Peter Rearick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 1995, 19 hours before
- Departed: M07
- Airport: M07, Searcy Municipal, runway 19, 5,007 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19950913049429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950913049429A), Sep 13, 1995: Piper PA20, Searcy, AR, Substantial damage. (-16) The student pilot stated that after practicing several solo take-offs and landings he failed to maintain directional control during a landing rollout.…

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.

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