# NTSB GAA18CA359: Piper PA 22, N8273C, Hillsboro, OH, June 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 15, 2018, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, OH - Coordinates: 39.188888, -83.538887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1889&lon=-83.5389&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA359 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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-22-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102206), [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-22-135, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [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-22-135, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102206), [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 exited the runway to the left, struck a runway light, and impacted a ditch. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left lower fuselage and left wing. The pilot added that, while he was at the departure airport before the flight, due to jet blast, he was blown off a ladder during the preflight inspection and that the airplane's tail section was "picked" up and slammed several times onto the ground. He examined the airplane and did not find any anomalies. The pilot reported that there no control issues or anomalies during takeoff but that, during the flight to the accident airport, he felt the airplane was out of trim. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, during a postaccident examination, he could not determine if the damage to the tailwheel was sustained before the accident or when the airplane impacted the ditch. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel equipped airplane exited the runway to the left, struck a runway light and impacted a ditch. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left lower fuselage and left wing. The pilot added that while he was at the departure airport prior to the flight, due to jet blast, he was blown off a ladder during the preflight inspection and that the airplane's tail section was "picked" up and slammed several times onto the ground. He examined the airplane and did not find any anomalies. During takeoff, the pilot did not report any control issues or anomalies but during the flight to the accident airport, he felt the airplane was out of trim. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that, during a postaccident examination, he was not able to determine if the damage to the tailwheel was sustained prior to the accident and not caused by the airplane's impact of the ditch. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8273C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8273C-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 22-2348, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 22 (135) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2348 - Year built: 1954 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FGX, Flemingsburg, KY - Destination: HOC, Hillsboro, OH - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: HOC, Highland County - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KILN, 19 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 20180615007929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180615007929A), Jun 15, 2018: Piper PA-22-135, Hillsboro, OH, Substantial damage. During normal approach to runway 23, the pilot touched down the main gear on the center line of the runway. When the tail wheel touched down the aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97519. 567 KB in all. - Accident Photos (item 1, .PDF, 2 photos, 460 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470011&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Pilot Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470012&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.