- Date
- February 9, 2002, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fremont, OH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2254APiper PA-20
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 1, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020209006139A
- Case key
- 54178
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Damage to the right tire, which resulted in a sudden loss of tire pressure and a loss of directional control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was conducting closed traffic. While compensating for a "light" right crosswind, he executed a normal approach. The airplane touched down, and then started to pull hard to the right. The airplane exited the runway, and ground looped to the right, with the left wing and elevator impacting the ground. Examination of the right tire revealed a cut consistent with impacting a sharp object. The runway was searched for the object, but nothing was found. Prior to the flight, the pilot inspected the tires, noting no anomalies. He did not inspect all of the right tire because the airplane was equipped with wheel fairings.
Factual narrative
On February 9, 2002, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-20, N2254A, was substantially damaged while landing at the Sandusky County Regional Airport (S24), Fremont, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was conducting closed traffic to runway 6. While compensating for a "light" right crosswind, the pilot executed a normal approach. The airplane touched down, and then started to pull hard to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and brake, but could not maintain directional control. The airplane continued in a "tight" arc to the right, leaving the runway on an angle of about 40 degrees. The right main landing gear then contacted some mud at the edge of the runway. The airplane "pivoted" hard to the right causing the airplane to "tilt" left, and the left wing to impact the ground. The airplane came to a stop pointed towards the runway, about 10 feet to the right. The pilot and passenger then exited.
The pilot examined the right tire and noticed what appeared to be a cut. He and his passenger then walked the runway to find what may have caused the damage, but were unsuccessful. Prior to the flight, the pilot preflighted the tires, but did not notice any anomalies. He added that the airplane was equipped with wheel fairings, and that they may have concealed the damage.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the damage to the right tire was consistent with impacting a sharp object. In addition, the left wing spar and elevator were damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2254A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-908
- Airframe hours
- 4,642
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rex Evelsizer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 26, 2001
- Departed
- S24 · Fremont, OH
- Destination
- S24 · OH
- Airport
- S24 · Sandusky County Regional, runway 6, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 6, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,950 total · 17 in this make and model · 1,925 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.17 inHg
- Observed at
- TDZ, 316 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.