# NTSB GAA16CA084: Piper PA22, N5667Z, New Castle, PA, December 20, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 20, 2015, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: New Castle, PA
- Coordinates: 41.026668, -80.41333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0267&lon=-80.4133&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 March 14, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Allegheny FSDO (FAA)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92473/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92473
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA084

## Probable cause

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

## 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: [Piper PA-22-108, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102204), [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: [Piper PA-22-108, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102204), [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: [Piper PA-22-108, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102204), [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-22-108, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the right. He responded by applying left rudder, but the airplane departed the runway to the right, impacted a ditch, and nosed over. The left wing strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the right. He responded by applying left rudder, but the airplane departed the runway to the right, impacted a ditch, and nosed over. The left wing strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5667Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5667Z-2016-05-24), registration cancelled 2016-05-24, S/N 22-9490, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (108)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (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: 22-9490
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 2005.99
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2015
- Departed: BTP, BUTLER, PA
- Destination: UCP, New Castle, PA
- Airport: UCP, New Castle Muni, runway 23, 3,995 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 378.5 total, 11.8 in this make and model, 208.8 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: KUCP

## 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 20151220022559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151220022559A), Dec 20, 2015: Piper PA-22-108, New Castle, PA, Substantial damage. On December 20, 2015 at approximately 14:30 local [privacy data omitted] was returning from butler county airport (kbtp) when during touchdown/rollout he lost…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92473. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%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.

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