# NTSB NYC98LA175: Stubler Taylor Titch, N1924S, Lock Haven, PA, August 31, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1998, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lock Haven, PA - Coordinates: 41.130905, -77.449989 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1309&lon=-77.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43945 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43945/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. A factor in the accident was the pilot's decision to use his left hand to actuate the flap handle located on the right side of the cockpit, while on final and over the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was to evaluate the flight characteristics of the airplane. While conducting the evaluation flight, the pilot noticed a high engine oil temperature, so he aborted the flight, spiraled the airplane down, and entered a right base. While on final, and over the runway at an indicated airspeed of 60 knots, the pilot elected to configure the airplane with full flaps. The pilot stated that while 'flying the airplane with his right hand, the pilot reached across the cockpit with his left hand, grabbed the flap handle and initiated full flaps. The next thing I knew, the airplane was right wing low and the sink rate exceeded normal.' The right wing impacted the ground, separated, and the airplane skidded down the runway inverted to a stop. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1998, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Taylor Titch, N1924S, was substantially damage during landing at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to evaluate the flight characteristics of the airplane. He added that the pre-flight, takeoff, climb, and slow flight portions of the evaluation flight went as expected, but he was unable to evaluate power on stalls, accelerated stalls, and power on turns because of a high engine oil temperature indication. After deciding to abort the evaluation flight because of a high engine oil temperature indication, the pilot "spiraled" the airplane down from 2,300 feet mean sea level and entered a right base for Runway 9. While on final, and over the "numbers" at an indicated airspeed of 60 knots, he elected to configure the airplane with full flaps. He stated: "Flying the aircraft with my right hand, I reached for the flap handle, located under my right arm, with my left hand and initiated full flaps. The next thing I knew, the aircraft was in a right wing-low attitude and the sink rate was exceeding normal....The aircraft's right wing separated from the fuselage and the plane rolled inverted [and skidded to a stop on the runway]...." A witness stated that the airplane lost altitude when the pilot preformed a "sharp" turn. The witness added that the right wing hit the ground causing the airplane to roll inverted and slide down the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1924S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1924S-1999-10-26), registration cancelled 1999-10-26, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stubler TAYLOR TITCH (TAYLOR TIT) - Registry model: [Stubler L S TAYLOR TITCH MK-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stubler-l-s-taylor-titch-mk-1) (registry code 056341K) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 16 - Engines: Continental A-75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lawrence Stubler - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, July 20, 1995, 16 hours before - Departed: LHV - Destination: LHV - Airport: LHV, William T Piper Memorial, runway 9, 3,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,765 total, 4 in this make and model, 4,910 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IPT, 27 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 19980831045059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980831045059A), Aug 31, 1998: Amtrty TAYLORTITCH, Lock Haven, PA, Substantial damage. (.4) The purpose of the flight was to evaluate the flight characteristics of the airplane. While conducting the evaluation flight, the pilot noticed a high… 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.