# NTSB GAA16CA444: P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL 104 Wilga, N65ZA, Austin, NV, August 21, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 21, 2016, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Austin, NV
- Coordinates: 39.467777, -117.197502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4678&lon=-117.1975&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA444
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93878/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93878
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA444

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the base to final turn, which resulted in a forced landing, and an intentional aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's excessive braking, which resulted in a nose over and substantial damage to the empennage.

## 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: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7360104), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing atop a backcountry mountain ridge at an elevation of 10,250 feet. The airplane was configured with full flaps and on left base to final turn and the wing blocked his view of the ridge. The pilot reported that in the turn to final he had descended "a couple hundred feet lower" than he should have and when the ridge came into view, he realized he was too low, the airplane would not be able to climb over the ridge, and that he was forced to continue the landing. The pilot further reported that he intentionally aerodynamically stalled the airplane before landing, which resulted in the tail wheel impacting the ground first, then the main landing gear. According to the pilot, to keep the airplane from falling off the edge of the cliff, he "locked up" the brakes, which resulted in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing atop a backcountry mountain ridge at an elevation of 10,250 feet. The airplane was configured with full flaps and on left base to final turn and the wing blocked his view of the ridge. The pilot reported that in the turn to final he had descended "a couple hundred feet lower" than he should have and when the ridge came into view, he realized he was too low, the airplane would not be able to climb over the ridge, and that he was forced to continue the landing. The pilot further reported that he intentionally aerodynamically stalled the airplane before landing, which resulted in the tail wheel impacting the ground first, then the main landing gear. According to the pilot, to keep the airplane from falling off the edge of the cliff, he "locked up" the brakes, which resulted in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65ZA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65ZA-2018-03-29), registration cancelled 2018-03-29, S/N 18830758, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: P Z L -WARSZAWA-CNPSL PZL 104 WILGA (35A)
- Registry model: [P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/p-z-l-warszawa-cnpsl-pzl-104-wilga-35a) (registry code 7360104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl PZL AI-14 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-pzl-ai-14-series) (registry code 67202, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18830758
- Year built: 1983
- Airframe hours: 3644
- Engines: Vedeneyev M-14P 360 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 12, 2016
- Departed: TMT, AUSTIN, NV
- Destination: Austin, NV
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,925 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,925 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KP68, 56 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 20160821014579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160821014579A), Aug 21, 2016: P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL-104 WILGA 35A, Austin, NV, Substantial damage. While conducting planning for an off-airport landing aircraft encountered higher terrain and could not climb above the ridge. Pilot elected to land long and…

## Other investigations on N65ZA (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 SEA04LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA066), Mar 29, 2004: PZL Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga 35A (N65ZA), Burlington, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger's interference with flight controls during a go-around maneuver. Contributing to the accident were the passenger's anxiety/apprehension, the pilot's inadequate brief to the passenger…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93878. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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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