# NTSB LAX08CA061: Piper PA-22, N3316A, El Cajon, CA, February 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 17, 2008, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: El Cajon, CA - Coordinates: 32.82611, -116.972503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67536/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA061 ## Probable cause The failure of both pilots to maintain directional control during landing and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## 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-22-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was with a certified flight instructor (CFI) on a tail wheel familiarization flight. While en route to the airport they experienced a loss of radio communications. The pilot set his transponder to 7600, overflew the field at pattern altitude, and received a green light from the tower. He entered the pattern and started his final approach at 70 knots with one notch of flaps, which was how the airplane was configured for his previous landings. On short final the CFI called for full flaps. As the flaps were moved to the full position, airspeed decreased and the rate of descent increased. The pilot added power and lowered the nose in an attempt to maintain the glide slope. At 15 to 20 feet agl the airplane began to settle, and then bounced during touchdown. The CFI called for the pilot to close the throttle, and the airplane bounced a second time. The airplane swerved left, the CFI applied right rudder, the airplane then swerved right, and the pilot and CFI applied left rudder and left brake. The plane continued to perform a ground loop to the right and the left wing dug into the terrain, causing substantial damage to the wing structure. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2008, at 1230 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22 Tripacer, N3316A, experienced a hard landing and subsequent ground loop at Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California. The private pilot operated the airplane as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot under instruction and the flight instructor were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Gillespie Field at 1130. The pilot stated in the Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report that he was with a certified flight instructor (CFI) on a tail wheel familiarization flight. While en route to Gillespie Field they experienced a loss of radio communications. He set his transponder to 7600, overflew the field at pattern altitude, and received a green light from the tower. He entered the pattern and started his final approach at 70 knots with one notch of flaps, which was how the airplane was configured for his previous landings. On short final the CFI called for full flaps. As the flaps were moved to the full position airspeed decreased and the rate of descent increased. The pilot added power and lowered the nose in an attempt to maintain the glide slope. At 15 to 20 feet agl the airplane began to settle, and then bounced during landing. The CFI called to close the throttle, and the airplane bounced a second time. The airplane swerved left, the CFI applied right rudder, the airplane then swerved right, and the pilot and CFI applied left rudder and left brake. The plane continued to perform a ground loop to the right and the left wing dug into the terrain, causing substantial damage to the wing structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3316A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3316A), registered now, S/N 22-1593 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-1593 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steve A. Baum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KSEE, El Cajon, CA - Destination: KSEE, El Cajon, CA - Airport: KSEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27R, 5,342 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 855 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 77; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KSEE ## 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 20080217012129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080217012129A), Feb 17, 2008: Piper PA22135, San Diego/El C, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was flying with a flight instructor to become qualified and receive an endorsement for tail wheel aircraft. The pilot stated that the… 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.