# NTSB SEA94LA180: Piper PA-20, N1540A, Easton, WA, July 15, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1994, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Easton, WA
- Coordinates: 47.349323, -121.269668 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3493&lon=-121.2697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA180

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE SOFT, UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## 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)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED PA-20 EXPERIENCED A MAIN GEAR COLLAPSE AFTER THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE SOFT, UNEVEN TURF RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On July 15, 1994, at 1200 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a     tailwheel equipped Piper PA-20, N1540A, experienced a gear collapse during the landing roll at Easton State Airstrip, Easton, Washington. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Wenatchee, Washington about 1045, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

The pilot, who had diverted into this remote airstrip in order to wait for weather to improve at his planned destination, said that he lost directional control during the landing roll on the soft, uneven turf runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1540A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1540A), registered now, S/N 20-748, 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: 20-748
- Airframe hours: 3231
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D-2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Whitney, Tim B.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1994, 17 hours before
- Departed: EAT, WENATCHEE, WA
- Destination: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Airport: ESW, Easton State, runway 27, 2,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,962 total, 57 in this make and model, 8,233 as pilot in command, 189 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °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 19940715018589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940715018589A), Jul 15, 1994: Piper PA20, Easton, WA, Substantial damage. Precautionary landing on rough soft landing strip due weather. Lost control. Swerved. Collapsed landing gear.

## Other investigations on N1540A (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 LAX98LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA266), Aug 16, 1998: Piper PA-20 (N1540A), Rio Vista, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the existing wind condition and maintain directional control on rollout.

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.

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