- Date
- May 5, 2018, 10:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place
- Fulton, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4534HPiper PA 15
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180505004679A
- Case key
- 97220
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing in crosswind conditions, the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 24.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing in crosswind conditions, the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 24.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4534H
- Reported as
- Piper PA 15 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15-307
- Built
- 1948
- Airframe hours
- 2,274.7
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 22, 2018
- Departed
- Hastings
- Destination
- FZY · Fulton, NY
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- FZY · Oswego County, runway 24, 3,996 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Last flight review
- July 4, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 358 total · 348.8 in this make and model · 350 as pilot in command · 1.6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KFZY
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.