# NTSB GAA19CA293: Piper PA 20, N7046K, Canandaigua, NY, May 6, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 6, 2019, 07:40 local (11:40 UTC) - Place: Canandaigua, NY - Coordinates: 42.909999, -77.330001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9100&lon=-77.3300&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99517 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99517/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99517 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA293 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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-20, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102002), [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-20, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102002), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102002), [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-20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102002), [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, the left wing raised, and the airplane "violently turned left." The pilot attempted to recover, but the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing lift strut, and rudder. 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, the left wing raised and the airplane "violently turned left." The pilot attempted to recover, but the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing lift strut, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 11 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The nearest automated weather observation station, located 20 miles northwest, reported that, about 14 minutes after the accident, the wind was 230° at 3 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 31. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7046K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7046K-2020-07-17), registration cancelled 2020-07-17, S/N 20-154, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 20 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (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: 20-154 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 2758 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2018 - Departed: NY49, Niagara Falls, NY - Destination: IUA, Canandaigua, NY - Airport: IUA, Canandaigua, runway 31, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 1,091 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,083 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KROC, 20 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 20190506004079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190506004079A), May 6, 2019: Piper PA-20, Canandaigua, NY, Substantial damage. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, the left wing raised And the airplane "violently turned left." The pilot attempted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99517. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.