# NTSB GAA19CA333: Piper PA22, N6865B, Riverside, CA, June 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2019, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Riverside, CA - Coordinates: 33.988887, -117.410003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9889&lon=-117.4100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99604 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99604/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99604 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA333 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to the maintain the runway heading during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with runway lighting and a subsequent ground loop during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/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-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [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-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102210), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing on a grass runway, the airplane encountered a "strong crosswind that blew [the airplane] to the left side of the grass." Upon landing, he observed "small grass mounds" rising higher than the mowed grass. As he continued the landing roll, he realized that the grass mounds were runway lights. The airplane hit a runway light and then ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located 3 miles south of the accident site reported that, about 38 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 270° at 15 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 24. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing on a grass runway, he encountered a "strong crosswind that blew [him] to the left side of the grass." Upon landing, he observed "small grass mounds" rising higher than the mowed grass. As he continued the landing roll, he noticed the grass mounds were runway lights. The airplane hit a runway light and ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located 3 miles south of the accident reported that, about 38 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 270° at 15 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 24. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6865B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6865B), registered now, S/N 22-4165, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA22 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4165 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3592.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2018 - Departed: SEE, San Diego/El Cajon, CA - Destination: RIR, Riverside/Rubidoux, CA - Airport: RIR, Flabob, runway 24, 3,190 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 32 in this make and model, 129 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KRAL, 3 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 20190609006329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190609006329A), Jun 9, 2019: Piper PA-22-150, Rubidoux, CA, Substantial damage. On landing at Flabob Airport, 06/09/2019 at 11AM, the pilot struck a runway light and lost control of the aircraft causing a ground loop with minor damage to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99604. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 836 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.