# NTSB GAA15CA036: Piper PA 22-135, N3768A, Drexel, MO, April 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 5, 2015, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Drexel, MO - Coordinates: 38.480556, -94.60778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4806&lon=-94.6078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 91001 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91001/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91001 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while taxiing in unfavorable wind conditions. ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-into takeoff position: 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) - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed stop and go landings, at a private dirt airstrip. After his third landing, while taxiing to the east for takeoff, the pilot reported encountering several wind gusts that nosed the airplane over. The airstrip is located between two weather reporting stations. Winds for the area were out of the south at fourteen knots with wind gusts at twenty-three knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, fuselage, and lift struts. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot performed stop and go landings, at a private dirt airstrip. After his third landing, while taxiing to the east for takeoff, the pilot reported encountering several wind gusts that nosed the airplane over. The airstrip is located between two weather reporting stations. Winds for the area were out of the south at fourteen knots with wind gusts at twenty-three knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, fuselage, and lift struts. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3768A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3768A), registered now, S/N 22-2010, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 22-135 (150) - 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: 22-2010 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 953 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Shannon, Randal S. Shannon, Melissa J. - Registered owner: Shannon, Randal S. Shannon, Melissa J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2015, 77 hours before - Departed: Drexel, MO - Destination: Drexel, MO - Airport: runway 09, 1,000 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 192.8 total, 113 in this make and model, 179 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 9.3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KGLY, 40 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 20150405005389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150405005389A), Apr 5, 2015: Piper PA-22-135, Drexel, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot was landing on a dirt runway with a gusty crosswind. The pilot touched down without any issues, but as he was rolling out he felt a gust of wind… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91001. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427247&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record - METAR Garrison, IA (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20METAR%20Garrison,%20IA-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wing Strut, Tail and Rudder (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wing%20Strut,%20Tail%20and%20Rudder%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damage to Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.