# NTSB SEA01LA016: Piper PA-20, N7707K, Hood River, OR, November 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2000, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Hood River, OR - Coordinates: 45.609813, -121.579086 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6098&lon=-121.5791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA016 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that the aircraft touched down in a three-point configuration and immediately veered to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder control and backpressure on the elevator. The aircraft continued to parallel the runway centerline for about 60 feet, when the airplane tipped over onto the wing and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Post-accident inspection of the brake system by a mechanic and an inspector from the FAA did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2000, at 1500 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-20, N7707K, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, nosed over during the landing roll at Hood River, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed from a private grass airstrip near Husum, Washington, about 10 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that when he departed from the grass airstrip in Husum, he noted that the aircraft was pulling to the left and that the aircraft took twice as long for a takeoff roll than normal. The pilot made corrections and continued the takeoff. Approximately 10 minutes later, the pilot set-up for a landing on Runway 7 at Hood River. The pilot reported that the approach and landing were normal. The aircraft touched down in a three-point configuration and immediately veered to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder control and backpressure on the elevator. The aircraft continued to parallel the runway centerline for about 60 feet, when the airplane tipped over onto the wing and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A skid mark on the runway was noted and appeared to be from the left main tire. After the aircraft was moved from the runway, the pilot reported that he rotated the left main tire and noted a "restriction." When he had his mechanic look at it, the tire rotated freely. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Portland, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office also inspected the brake system and reported that the brakes operated normally. Maintenance records indicate that at the last annual inspection completed on August 8, 2000, new brake liners were installed. The aircraft had accumulated a total flight time of 16 hours since the last inspection. The pilot's flight logbook indicated that since October 8, 2000, he had successfully made 11 landings without incident in this aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7707K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7707K-2001-02-09), registration cancelled 2001-02-09, S/N 20-528 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-528 - Airframe hours: 4233 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph Csizmazia - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2000, 16 hours before - Departed: HUSUM, WA - Destination: 4S2 - Airport: 4S2, Hood River, runway 7, 3,040 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,345 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 1,320 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 20001103019149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001103019149A), Nov 3, 2000: Piper PA20, Hood River, OR, No damage. (-23) N7707K, a PA-20 conventional gear a/c, received substantial damage upon landing on rwy 7 at the Hood River, Oregon airport. The winds were calm and smoke… ## Other investigations on N7707K (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 LAX77FUJ59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUJ59), Aug 20, 1977: Piper PA-20 (N7707K), New River, AZ, 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.