# NTSB GAA15CA070: Piper PA 18-150, N7153Z, Cornelia, GA, April 4, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 4, 2015, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Cornelia, GA
- Coordinates: 34.500831, -83.555 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5008&lon=-83.5550&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 July 27, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91171
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91171/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91171
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA070

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [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-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [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: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that just as he was going to touch down on the runway, the airplane wanted to turn to the left, he applied right rudder but it was not affective. He applied full power and attempted to abort the landing but the airplane would not gain lift. The airplane veered left off the runway and into the grass and was traveling towards a ditch. He applied one notch of flaps in an attempt to clear the ditch; subsequently the airplanes main wheels came in contact with the ditch first and stopped immediately, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that just as he was going to touch down on the runway, the airplane wanted to turn to the left, he applied right rudder but it was not affective. He applied full power and attempted to abort the landing but the airplane would not gain lift. The airplane veered left off the runway and into the grass and was traveling towards a ditch. He applied one notch of flaps in an attempt to clear the ditch; subsequently the airplanes main wheels came in contact with the ditch first and stopped immediately, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7153Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7153Z), registered now, S/N 18-8266, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8266
- Year built: 1965
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Supercub 88 LLC
- Registered owner: Supercub 88 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
- Destination: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
- Airport: AJR, Habersham County, runway 24, 5,506 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,225 total, 59.5 in this make and model, 1,109.4 as pilot in command, 61.2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: KGVL, 19 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 20150404006819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150404006819A), Apr 4, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Cornelia, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of aircraft during touchdown on rwy 24. Aircraft departed the runway into ditch adjacent to runway.

## Other investigations on N7153Z (2)

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.

- [NTSB WPR11LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA136), Feb 16, 2011: Piper PA18 (N7153Z), Twin Falls, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to compensate for the wind, which resulted in the airplane being blown over after completion of the landing roll.
- [NTSB SEA97LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA218), Sep 28, 1997: Piper PA-18-150 (N7153Z), Dixie, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Shifting of a briefcase stored behind the pilot's seat to a position where it obstructed movement of the rudder pedals, resulting in loss of directional control capability. A factor was trees…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91171. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 725 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of airplane front left (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20airplane%20front%20left%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – View of airplane front (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20airplane%20front%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-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.

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