# NTSB LAX99LA064: Piper PA-22-108, N4556Z, Hayward, CA, January 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 1999, 11:18 local (19:18 UTC) - Place: Hayward, CA - Coordinates: 37.629497, -122.040931 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6295&lon=-122.0409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45559/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA064 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control. A factor in this accident was the inadvertent ground loop swerve. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - Fire, other ## Analysis The student pilot was completing the last of his touch-and-go landings at a local airport. During the flare he said the airplane began to drift to the right and said he noticed the left wing getting ready to contact the ground, as if in a ground loop condition. The pilot applied full throttle in an attempt to fly away. He stated the airplane did not want to fly so he elected to close the throttle and attempted to straighten out the airplane for landing. The aircraft contacted the ground and subsequently nosed over. The gascolator was compromised during the crash, which allowed unregulated fuel to enter the engine cowling. The postcrash fire ensued which destroyed the airplane. The pilot reported that the weather conditions at the time of the crash as reported on ATIS were winds 070 at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 1999, at 1118 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-108, N4556Z, nosed over following a loss of control during the flare/touchdown at Hayward, California. The aircraft was destroyed during the impact sequence and postcrash fire. The student pilot was not injured. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. In the pilot's written statement, he reported that he had stayed in the pattern at Hayward to practice touch-and-go landings and completed two with no problems noted. He stated that this was to be his last landing for the day and noted that his approach speed over the fence was normal. He said he was drifting to the right as he began his flare, and the next thing he remembered was the left wing getting ready to touch the ground, as in a left sliding skid or ground loop condition. He applied full throttle to try and fly the airplane so that the wing would not hit the ground. The pilot said the airplane "did not want to fly," so he elected to close the throttle and straighten the airplane out prior to landing. The airplane nosed over upon landing, which resulted in a broken front landing gear. The pilot said he shut off the fuel, mixture, magnetos, and master switch and exited the airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, ATIS was reporting the winds to be from 070 degrees at 04 knots. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation (FAA) Safety Inspector told Safety Board investigators that the support structure of the nose gear contacted the output side of the gascolator, causing it to break off the fitting which resulted in unregulated fuel pouring into the engine cowling. The aircraft fuel ignited and the fabric began to catch fire, thus eventually destroying the airplane. An aviation inspector from the FAA interviewed the certified flight instructor (CFI), who had provided training to the student pilot. The CFI stated that in his opinion, the student pilot "possessed excellent flying skills." He further stated that the student pilot had approximately 40 hours of flying time, including 3 to 4 hours of crosswind landings at Palo Alto Airport, an airport known for it's stiff crosswinds. He also said that he felt that the student pilot was "a very cautious and attentive student." The Safety Board did not take custody of the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4556Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4556Z-2002-02-08), registration cancelled 2002-02-08, S/N 22-8061, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-108 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-8061 - Airframe hours: 3900 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur J. Stavro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1998, 75 hours before - Departed: HWD - Airport: HWD, Hayward Air Terminal, runway 28L, 5,024 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 37 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 8 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHW, 1 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 19990102000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990102000129A), Jan 2, 1999: Piper PA22108, Hayward, CA, Destroyed. After aircraft touched down, it nosed over. (.19)on January 2, 1999, at 1118 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-108 nosed over following a loss of… ## Other investigations on N4556Z (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 UNK65X0472](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0472), Oct 29, 1964: Piper PA22 (N4556Z), What Cheer, IA, substantial damage 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.