# NTSB GAA15CA114: Piper PA 16, N5735H, Tollville, AR, June 10, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2015, 21:45 local (Jun 10, 2015, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Tollville, AR - Coordinates: 34.712776, -91.529724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7128&lon=-91.5297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91341 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91341/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91341 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane impacting a rice field and nosing over. ## 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-16, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101602), [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-16, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-16, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on short final to the unlit airstrip; during the flare, he lost sight of the runway and the airplane veered to the right, impacted a rice field, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and lift strut. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation The pilot stated that the accident may have been mitigated if he would have landed on a lit runway and conducted a wheel landing instead of a three point landing, which would have allowed him to maintain a visual of the runway until his main wheels where on the ground. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while on short final to the unlit airstrip; during the flare, he lost sight of the runway and the airplane veered to the right, impacted a rice field, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and lift strut. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation The pilot stated that the accident may have been mitigated if he would have landed on a lit runway and conducted a wheel landing instead of a three point landing, which would have allowed him to maintain a visual of the runway until his main wheels where on the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5735H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5735H-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 16-347, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 16 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16-347 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 3989 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 CL 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sickel Mason L - Registered owner: Sickel Mason L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2015, 42 hours before - Departed: 6M0, HAZEN, AR - Destination: Unkn, Tollville, AR - Airport: Unkn, Private Airstrip, runway 36, 2,544 × 20 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 244.8 total, 189.8 in this make and model, 244.8 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KSGT, 7 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 20150609007599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150609007599A), Jun 9, 2015: Piper PA-16, Hazen, AR, Substantial damage. History of flight On June 9, 2015, about 07:45 p.m. central daylight time, a 1949 Piper PA16 airplane, us registration number N5735H, serial number 16-347,… ## Other investigations on N5735H (1) 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 CHI71FBD26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBD26), Sep 11, 1970: Piper PA-16 (N5735H), West Chicago, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91341. 7.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Right Lift Strut (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Lift%20Strut%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Rear of Airplane (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Rear%20of%20Airplane%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.