# NTSB GAA17CA281: Piper PA22, N31JP, South Boston, VA, May 15, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 15, 2017, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: South Boston, VA
- Coordinates: 36.708889, -78.848052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7089&lon=-78.8481&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 20, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA281
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95180/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95180
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA281

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## 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-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [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-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered to the left, and he "could not keep the [airplane] on [the] runway using full right rudder." The airplane exited the left side of the runway, continued to turn to the left about 180°, hit an embankment, and the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 060° at 7 knots. The pilot landed on runway 19.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered to the left and he "could not keep the [airplane] on [the] runway using full right rudder." The airplane exited the left side of the runway, continued to turn to the left about 180°, encountered an embankment, and the right main gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that about the time of the accident, on the accident airport, the wind was 060° at 7 knots. The pilot landed on runway 19.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31JP), registered now, S/N 22-3913, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-3913
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 2863.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 10, 2017
- Departed: 8NC8, DURHAM, NC
- Destination: W78, South Boston, VA
- Airport: W78, William M Tuck, runway 19, 4,003 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,100 total, 41 in this make and model, 4,590 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KDAN, 25 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 20170515018569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170515018569A), May 15, 2017: Piper PA-22-150, South Boston, VA, Substantial damage. Upon landing, the aircraft ground looped. During touchdown, the aircraft turned to the left; although the pilot was using full right rudder, the pilot could…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95180. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 842 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453775&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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