# NTSB GAA18CA381: Piper PA 30, N7072Y, Goodyear, AZ, June 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2018, 21:14 local (Jun 23, 2018, 03:14 UTC) - Place: Goodyear, AZ - Coordinates: 33.42472, -112.373054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4247&lon=-112.3731&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97613 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97613/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97613 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA381 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’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-30, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103002), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103002), [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-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103002), [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-30, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103002), [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-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while landing at night, the pilot receiving instruction allowed the twin-engine airplane to drift left of the centerline at touchdown. The pilot then overcorrected with right rudder, the airplane veered to the right, and the pilot then locked the brakes. The airplane continued to veer right and exited the runway. The flight instructor added that he did not ask for the flight controls but that he did ask the pilot to release the brakes; however, the pilot did not do so. After exiting the runway, the flight instructor had only right rudder and nosewheel steering and "fishtailed" the airplane further to the right before the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 9 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 21. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, while landing at night, the pilot receiving instruction allowed the twin engine airplane to drift left of the centerline at touchdown. The pilot then overcorrected with right rudder, the airplane veered to the right, and the pilot then locked the brakes. The airplane continued to veer right and exited the runway. The flight instructor further added that he did not request the flight controls but asked the pilot to release the brakes to no avail. After exiting the runway, the flight instructor had only right rudder and nosewheel steering and "fishtailed" the airplane further to the right before the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 21. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7072Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7072Y-2019-12-16), registration cancelled 2019-12-16, S/N 30-85, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 30 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-85 - Year built: 1963 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320-B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Buckeye Flight Experience, LLC, doing business as FlyGoodyear - Registered owner: Fly Twin Comanche LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GYR, Goodyear, AZ - Destination: VCV, Victorville, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GYR, Phoenix Goodyear, runway 21, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 24, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10,000 total, 88 in this make and model, 8,505 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: KGYR, 1 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97613. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 890 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 364 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.