# NTSB SEA98LA067: Piper PA-20, N7458K, Arlington, WA, April 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1998, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.179615, -121.670097 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1796&lon=-121.6701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42778/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, and his delayed remedial action when the aircraft started to drift off the side of the runway. ## 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) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis After touching down on both main landing gear, the left main gear of the tailwheel aircraft lifted off the runway. As the aircraft rolled forward with only the right main gear touching the surface, the aircraft began to veer toward the left edge of the runway. As the aircraft continued toward the edge of the runway, the pilot applied remedial rudder inputs, but the remedial action was not taken in time to keep the aircraft from exiting the side of the runway. As the aircraft exited the runway, the right main gear dug into the soft terrain and was torn from the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1998, approximately 1610 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-20 tail wheel aircraft, N7458K, experienced a collapse of one main landing gear leg during the landing roll at Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight, which departed Jefferson County Airport, Port Townsend, Washington, about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he had touched down on both main gear and was beginning the rollout when the left wing picked up and the aircraft began rolling on the right tire only. Soon thereafter, the aircraft started to veer toward the left side of the runway, and the pilot attempted remedial action by applying rudder opposite to the direction the aircraft was drifting. But, by the time of the rudder application, the aircraft had drifted to far from the center of the runway to keep it from departing the runway edge. After the aircraft left the runway, the right main gear dug into the soft terrain, whereupon the gear leg tore away from the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7458K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7458K), registered now, S/N 20-370, built 1950 (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: 20-370 - Airframe hours: 1725 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dizard, James And Mike - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1997, 17 hours before - Departed: 0S9, JEFFERSON CNTY., WA - Destination: AWO - Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal, runway 34, 5,336 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 171 total, 82 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19980426033199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980426033199A), Apr 26, 1998: Piper PA20, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. (.4)After touching down on both main landing gear, the left main gear of the tailwheel aircraft lifted off the runway. As the aircraft rolled forward with only… ## Other investigations on N7458K (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 SEA91LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA180), Jul 13, 1991: Piper PA-20 (N7458K), Chehalis, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. FACTORS INCLUDE GUSTY WINDS AND CROSSWINDS. 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.