# NTSB GAA18CA297: Piper PA22, N4913Z, Start, LA, May 23, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 23, 2018, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Start, LA
- Coordinates: 32.455001, -91.82611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4550&lon=-91.8261&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97319
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97319/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97319
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA297

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a grass airstrip, the airplane was close to an aerodynamic stall. He added that, during the landing, the airplane bounced multiple times, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane then nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a grass airstrip, the airplane was close to an aerodynamic stall. He added that the airplane landed and bounced multiple times, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4913Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4913Z), registered now, S/N 22-8499 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-8499
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 1055.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2017
- Departed: PVT, Start, LA
- Destination: PVT, Start, LA
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway UKN, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 1,827.8 total, 4.6 in this make and model, 1,746.8 as pilot in command, 6.1 in the last 90 days, 4.6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KMLU, 12 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 20180523005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180523005859A), May 23, 2018: Piper PA-22-108, Rayville, LA, Substantial damage. Airman was practicing takeoffs and landings on a private grass runway four miles southwest of the Rayville, LA (M79) airport in his tailwheel airplane in which…

## Other investigations on N4913Z (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 LAX05LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA042), Nov 28, 2004: Piper PA-22-108 (N4913Z), Big Pine, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: oil exhaustion due to an improper oil breather tube installation, which became plugged in flight due to frozen moisture build-up. The blocked breather tube then created a crankcase over pressure that…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97319. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465696&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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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