# NTSB GAA19CA317: Piper PA 11, N78641, Paducah, TX, June 5, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 5, 2019, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Paducah, TX - Coordinates: 34.02111, -100.327499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0211&lon=-100.3275&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 November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99561 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99561/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99561 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA317 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing on a road in crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane exiting the road and subsequently nosing over. ## 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-11, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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-11, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101102), [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-11, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101102), [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-11, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was concerned about the condition of the landing and taxi surfaces of the private, grass airstrip due to heavy rainfall. He overflew the field but was unable to determine the condition. He determined that it would be safer to land on a road perpendicular to the runway. Upon landing on the road, the airplane suddenly veered right. The pilot applied opposite rudder, but the airplane exited the road and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left 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 from 360° at 7 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane to the west. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was concerned about the condition of the landing and taxi surfaces of the private, grass airstrip due to heavy rainfall. He over flew the field but was unable to determine the condition. He determined it would be safer to land on the "Farm Road" perpendicular to the runway. Upon landing on the road, the airplane suddenly veered to the right, he applied opposite rudder, but the airplane exited the road, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left 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 from 360° at 7 knots. The airplane was landing to the west. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78641](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78641), registered now, S/N 11-1402, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 11 (No Series) - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-1402 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 1547.9 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2019 - Departed: LBB, Lubbock, TX - Destination: 2TS5, Paducah, TX - Airport: 2TS5, Paducah - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 4, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,000 total, 36 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KCDS, 24 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 20190605005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190605005919A), Jun 5, 2019: Piper PA-11, Paducah, TX, Minor damage. Pilot evaluated his Private Grass Strip and decided to land on cr 101 because of recent heavy rains. He was concerned that the Grass strip was too wet and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99561. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 835 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 465 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473860&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.