- Date
- May 20, 2009, 16:23 local (23:23 UTC)
- Place
- Glendale, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1591APiper PA-20
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090520008719A
- Case key
- 73888
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control on the landing roll out.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the flight was normal and he set up for landing, with no unusual drift noted on final approach and with a normal touchdown. The pilot stated that the next thing he recalled was the left wing dropped and the airplane was skidding to the right across the runway and impacting a runway light. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or the control system.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported a normal flight to the accident airport. He set up for landing in the 50-degree crosswind with no unusual drift noted on final approach, followed by a normal landing. The pilot stated that the next thing he recalled the left wing dropped, and the airplane was skidding to the right across the runway and impacting a runway light. After coming to a stop he obtained permission to taxi the airplane to a tie down spot. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane spun round to the right, which caused structural damage to the left wing and elevator.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1591A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-827
- Airframe hours
- 3,338
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Frank Klein
- Registered owner
- Frank Klein
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 6, 2009 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- SJN · St Johns, AZ
- Destination
- GEU · Glendale, AZ
- Airport
- GEU · Glendale Municipal Airport, runway 01, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,880 total · 1,973 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 60° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.78 inHg
- Observed at
- GEU
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 701 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1591A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.