# NTSB SEA08CA009: Piper PA-22/20, N1139C, Townsend, MT, October 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 10, 2007, 10:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Townsend, MT - Coordinates: 46.480957, -111.339103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4810&lon=-111.3391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66881/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA009 ## Probable cause The private pilot/student failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll, and remedial action was not possible by the flight instructor which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. ## 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, dual student (cause) - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was for the private pilot/owner to receive instruction for the tailwheel endorsement. After practicing several successful takeoffs and landings, the flight instructor had the private pilot set-up for a full stop wheel landing to runway 16, which had a six knot, 45 degree crosswind. While in ground effect, the private pilot reduced the throttle too fast, which increased the sink rate and the aircraft touched down firmly on the mains. The private pilot arrested the bounce with forward pressure before the aircraft lifted off, and applied some power to maintain directional control. The aircraft then began to make an excursion from the runway centerline and the private pilot lowered the tail which made the aircraft unstable. The flight instructor then assisted the private pilot and stabilized the aircraft. The private pilot then indicated that he could handle the situation, and the flight instructor returned control back to the private pilot. The flight instructor stated that he may have returned control back to the private pilot too quickly, as the situation degraded to large excursion from centerline, and the aircraft diverted from normal track. The flight instructor was not able to regain directional control and the aircraft ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing and elevator contacted the ground and were structurally damaged. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was for the private pilot/owner to receive instruction for the tailwheel endorsement. After practicing several successful takeoffs and landings, the flight instructor had the private pilot set-up for a full stop wheel landing to runway 16, which had a six knot, 45 degree crosswind. While in ground effect, the private pilot reduced the throttle too fast, which increased the sink rate and the aircraft touched down firmly on the mains. The private pilot arrested the bounce with forward pressure before the aircraft lifted off, and applied some power to maintain directional control. The aircraft then began to make an excursion from the runway centerline and the private pilot lowered the tail which made the aircraft unstable. The flight instructor then assisted the private pilot and stabilized the aircraft. The private pilot then indicated that he could handle the situation, and the flight instructor returned control back to the private pilot. The flight instructor stated that he may have returned control back to the private pilot too quickly, as the situation degraded to large excursion from centerline, and the aircraft diverted from normal track. The flight instructor was not able to regain directional control and the aircraft ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing and elevator contacted the ground and were structurally damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1139C (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22/20 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-975 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas S. Cairns - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 8U9, Canyon Ferry, MT - Destination: 8U8, Townsend, MT - Airport: 8U8, Townsend, runway 16, 4,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 0; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 5,942 total, 10 in this make and model, 121 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20071010022229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071010022229A), Oct 10, 2007: Piper PA22, Townsend, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 10:50 MDT on October 10, 2007, aircraft N1139C, a 1953 PA-22, registered to [privacy data omitted], ground looped at the Townsend, MT… 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.