# NTSB GAA19CA298: Piper PA18, N530AK, Sparta, IL, May 31, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2019, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Sparta, IL - Coordinates: 38.148887, -89.698608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1489&lon=-89.6986&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99524/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99524 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA298 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing on an asphalt runway, the airplane touched down and then veered right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake but overcorrected, and the airplane continued veering left. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that the airplane was equipped with 26-inch tundra tires, and that he performed a landing on the asphalt runway. The airplane touched down and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake but overcorrected the airplane's direction to the left. Subsequently, the airplane ground-looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N530AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N530AK), registered now, S/N 18-4385, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4385 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3187 - Engines: Amateur/Experimental Unknown 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2019 - Departed: SAR, Sparta, IL - Destination: SAR, Sparta, IL - Airport: SAR, Sparta Community-Hunter Field, runway 36, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,034 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,919 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSAR ## 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 20190531011179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190531011179A), May 31, 2019: Piper PA-18-150, Sparta, IL, Substantial damage. The PIC stated that he was on rollout from the landing with a slight cross wind. He stated that his right tire gripped the pavement more than the left tire and… ## Other investigations on N530AK (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 CEN20CA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA033), Nov 23, 2019: Piper PA18 (N530AK), Kerrville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control during the landing flare, which resulted in a loss of directional control and ground-loop. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99524. 3.9 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=40475486&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.