# NTSB LAX05LA040: Piper PA-22-160, N9827D, Prescott, AZ, November 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 2004, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.650388, -112.42807 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6504&lon=-112.4281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA040 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's unfamiliarity with the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway during an aborted takeoff and collided with terrain. The pilot performed a before takeoff check of the flight controls and engine systems and initiated the takeoff roll, departing runway 21L. The airplane became airborne after a normal takeoff ground roll distance, and began to climb at a rate of about 100 to 200 feet per minute. After the airplane reached an altitude about 100 feet above ground, the pilot decided that the airplane was not gaining sufficient altitude. He estimated that sufficient runway remained, 2,000 to 2,500 feet, and decided to perform a precautionary landing. After a normal touchdown along the runway centerline, the airplane veered to the left during landing rollout. The airplane continued off the runway into nearby grass. The left main gear impacted soft soil, pivoting the airplane to the left. The pilot said that with only 3.5 hours of experience in the tail wheel equipped airplane, he was not yet accustomed to the manner in which the airplane frequently veered to the left during the landing rollout phase. He stated that he was hesitant to overcorrect and cited unfamiliarity with this characteristic of the airplane as a possible contributing factor to the loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 2004, about 1530 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-22-160, N9827D, veered off the runway and collided with terrain during landing rollout at Ernest A. Love Field Airport, Prescott, Arizona. The airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight was departing with the planned destination of General WM J Fox Airfield, Lancaster, California. In a telephone interview with a National Transporation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that the wind conditions were calm, and the temperature was normal for the season and time of day. The pilot assumed that the density altitude condition was high, but reported that he was unconcerned as he was accustomed to operating from the airport in comparably powered airplanes and under similar weather conditions. He expected that his experience in the airplane would provide an adequate estimation of takeoff and climb performance. The pilot further reported that the airplane was at the maximum gross weight of 2,000 pounds and that the center of gravity was within the limitations prescribed by the airplane's Approved Flight Manual. The pilot performed a before takeoff check of the flight controls and engine systems and initiated the takeoff roll, departing runway 21L. The airplane became airborne after a normal takeoff ground roll distance, and began to climb at a rate between 100 to 200 feet per minute. After the airplane reached an altitude about 100 feet above ground, the pilot decided that the airplane was not gaining sufficient altitude. He estimated that sufficient runway remained (2,000 to 2,500 feet), and decided to perform a precautionary landing. After a normal touchdown along the runway centerline, the airplane veered to the left during landing rollout. The airplane continued off the runway into nearby grass. The left main gear impacted soft soil, pivoting the airplane to the left. The left wingtip and left side of the elevator sustained damage. The pilot added that with 3.5 hours of experience in the airplane, he was not yet accustomed to the manner in which the airplane frequently veered to the left during the landing rollout phase. He stated that he was hesitant to overcorrect and cited unfamiliarity with this characteristic of the airplane as a possible contributing factor to the loss of directional control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9827D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9827D), registered now, S/N 22-6717 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6717 - Airframe hours: 3530 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2004, 15 hours before - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: WJF, Lancaster, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PRC, Ernest A. Love Field Airport, runway 21L, 7,750 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 9,131 total, 4 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: PRC ## 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 20041124034269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041124034269A), Nov 24, 2004: Piper PA22160, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Conversation with the pilot [privacy data omitted] revealed he had 3.5 hrs in this type of aircraft. Attempted take-off, became airborne, and decided he… 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.