# NTSB SEA02LA149: Piper PA-22/20, N1573P, Shearer, ID, August 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2002, 18:00 local (Aug 11, 2002, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Shearer, ID - Coordinates: 45.99139, -114.840835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9914&lon=-114.8408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55486 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55486/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55486 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper approach speed while on final approach to the 2000 foot airstrip, and his excessive application of brakes while attempting to stop the aircraft during the resultant longer than normal landing roll. Factors include a slight tailwind. ## Analysis Before making his approach for the planned full-stop landing, the pilot flew over the 2,000 foot runway in order to check the winds. After seeing the wind socks were hanging limp (no wind), he initiated his approach to runway 18. While on final approach , the pilot realized that he was "coming in a little high," so he slipped the aircraft in order to lose altitude. As he crossed the runway threshold, his ground speed was "higher than normal," and he therefore had to use excessive braking in order to stop the aircraft before it reached the far end of the runway. During his braking attempt, as the aircraft was passing over a dip in the runway, it nosed over on to its back. According to the pilot, a slight tailwind seemed to come up while he was on final approach. The approach to runway 18 (the recommended landing direction) was made up the narrow Selway River Canyon and is a "blind approach." The first 400 feet of runway 18 is "very rough," and the Idaho Airport Facility Directory states that "inexperienced pilots" should use this field for emergencies only. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2002, approximately 1800 mountain daylight time, a tailwheel-equiped Piper PA-22, N1573P, nosed over during the landing roll at Shearer Airport, Shearer, Idaho. The aircraft was owned and operated by a private pilot. The pilot and his passenger were not injured, however, the aircraft received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight departed Moose Creek Airport, Moose Creek Ranger Station, Idaho, approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, before making his approach for the planned full-stop landing, he flew over the 2,000 foot runway in order to check the winds. After seeing the wind socks were hanging limp (no wind), he initiated his approach to runway 18. While on final approach, the pilot realized that he was "coming in a little high," so he slipped the aircraft in order to lose altitude. As he crossed the runway threshold, his ground speed was "higher than normal," and he therefore had to use excessive braking in order to stop the aircraft before it reached the far end of the runway. During his braking attempt, as the aircraft was passing over a dip in the runway, it nosed over on to its back. According to the pilot, a slight tailwind seemed to come up while he was on final approach. According to the Idaho Division of Aeronautics' Airport Facilities Directory, the approach to runway 18 (the recommended landing direction) is made up the narrow Selway River Canyon and is a "blind approach." The directory further states that the first 400 feet of runway 18 is "very rough," and that "inexperienced pilots" should use this field for emergencies only. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: N1573P (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22/20 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2576 - Airframe hours: 2637 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jesse E. Strasburg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2002, 63 hours before - Departed: 1U1, Moose Creek, ID - Destination: 2U5, Shearer, ID - Airport: 2U5, Shearer Airport, runway 18, 2,000 × 25 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review November 28, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 415 total, 400 in this make and model, 63 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 20020810021299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020810021299A), Aug 10, 2002: Piper PA22, Shearer, ID, Destroyed. (-23) Landed at Usfs airstrip which is listed in the airport/facility directory as hazardous. The pilot stated the wind sock showed no wind, on downwind. He… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55486. 322 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.