# NTSB SEA05LA039: Piper PA-20, N1535A, Lewiston, ID, January 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 21, 2005, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.379722, -117 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3797&lon=-117.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Wind gusts and the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions were factors. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the three point landing on runway 11, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind from the left side which raised the left wing and moved the aircraft to the right. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control by applying corrections with rudder, aileron and braking action. The aircraft exited the runway surface where the right main landing gear collapsed when the aircraft traveled over the soft surface. The right wing contacted the runway surface, damaging the wing spar. The current surface observation was reporting a wind from 50 degrees at seven knots. Visibility was 10 miles and clear. ## Factual narrative On January 21, 2005, about 1115 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-20, N1535A, registered to and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ground looped the aircraft during the landing roll and collapsed the right main landing gear. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged, and the private pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. The pilot reported that during the three point landing on runway 11, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind from the left side which raised the left wing and moved the aircraft to the right. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control by applying corrections with rudder, aileron and braking action. The aircraft exited the runway surface where the right main landing gear collapsed when the aircraft traveled over the soft surface. The right wing contacted the runway surface, damaging the wing spar. At 1056, the Lewiston surface observation was reporting a wind from 50 degrees at seven knots. Visibility was 10 miles and clear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1535A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1535A), registered now, S/N 20-731, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-731 - Airframe hours: 3107 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Coy R. Getman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2004, 18 hours before - Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Airport: LWS, Lewiston-Nez Perce Co., runway 11, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 17, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,250 total, 875 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: LWS ## 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 20050121000499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050121000499A), Jan 21, 2005: Piper PA20, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On 01-21-2005 at approximately 1115 the pilot of N1535A, a PA-20 lost directional control of his aircraft and subsequently groundlooped his aircraft… 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.