- Date
- November 29, 2018, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Burlington, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3619MPiper PA 12
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20181129023049A
- Case key
- 98702
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 while landing in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
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 reported that, after touching down in crosswind conditions, the tailwheel-equipped airplane drifted left. He then applied opposite rudder and brake, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway, and struck a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 8 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 29.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while landing with a crosswind, after touchdown, the tailwheel-equipped airplane drifted left. He then applied opposite rudder and brake, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway, and struck a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. 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 320° at 8 knots. The pilot landed on runway 29.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3619M
- Reported as
- Piper PA 12 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-2517
- Built
- 1947
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 5, 2016
- Departed
- BLI · Bellingham, WA
- Destination
- BVS · Burlington, WA
- Airport
- BVS · Skagit Rgnl, runway 29, 5,478 × 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
- 75
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 16, 2018
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,975 total · 22 in this make and model · 1,750 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 0.5 in the last 30 days · 0.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- KBVS
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.
Other investigations on N3619M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.