# NTSB LAX04CA026: Piper PA-20, N7409K, Petaluma, CA, October 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 25, 2003, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Petaluma, CA - Coordinates: 38.257778, -122.605552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2578&lon=-122.6056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58245/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA026 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control that resulted in a ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear strut - overload ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during the landing roll. The pilot configured the airplane to land with full flaps and the engine running at idle. On the landing roll the airplane ground looped to the right and came to rest about 70 degrees from the runway heading. The left wing tip and propeller came into contact with the ground, and the left main landing gear collapsed. A light, quartering headwind existed, with winds from 170 degrees at 4 knots and gusting to 8 knots. The pilot said the airplane had no mechanical discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2003, about 1150 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA20, N7409K, ground looped during landing at Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), Petaluma, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Sonoma Skypark (0Q9), Sonoma, California, about 1130, en route to Petaluma Municipal. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported in a written statement that he entered the traffic pattern on the left downwind leg for runway 11 at a 45-degree angle. He configured the airplane to land with full flaps and the engine running at idle. On the landing roll the airplane ground looped to the right and came to rest about 70 degrees from the runway heading. The left wing tip and propeller came into contact with the ground, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that a light, quartering headwind existed, with winds from 170 degrees at 4 knots and gusting to 8 knots. He noted that the airplane had no mechanical discrepancies. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) generated by an Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) at Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California (located 15.5 nautical miles east from the accident site), indicated that about 4 minutes after the accident winds were variable at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7409K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7409K-2019-10-01), registration cancelled 2019-10-01, S/N 20-318, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - 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: 20-318 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 Series reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 0Q9, Sonoma Skypark, CA - Destination: O69, Petaluma, CA - Airport: O69, Petaluma Municipal, runway 11 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 437 total, 164 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20031025029499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031025029499I), Oct 25, 2003: Piper PA20, Petaluma, CA. (-23) On 10/25/03, a Piper PA20 acft, ground looped on landing at the Petaluma airport, on runway 11 at 1140PDT. Wing damage and no injuries reported to the… ## Other investigations on N7409K (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 GAA19CA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA408), Jul 12, 2019: Piper PA 20 (N7409K), Hamilton, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control due to his unintentional use of brakes instead of the rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. 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.