# NTSB WPR09CA435: Piper PA-20, N1544A, Bozeman, MT, September 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2009, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Bozeman, MT - Coordinates: 45.7775, -111.151947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7775&lon=-111.1519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74672 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74672/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74672 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA435 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot receiving instruction to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor's delayed corrective action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor said he was giving the certificated private pilot some training in tail wheel aircraft. He told the pilot that the rudder pedals were very sensitive. The pilot taxied onto the runway, lined up on the centerline, and applied power for takeoff. The takeoff roll was normal until the tail wheel lifted off and the nose turned left. The flight instructor said the pilot overcorrected to the right and then back to the left. The flight instructor then got on the controls with the pilot, and, as the aircraft turned right a second time, the turn progressed into a ground loop. Subsequently, the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing was bent up. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor said he was giving the certificated private pilot some training in tail wheel aircraft. He told the pilot that the rudder pedals were very sensitive. The pilot taxied onto the runway, lined up on the centerline, and applied power for takeoff. The takeoff roll was normal until the tail wheel lifted off and the nose turned left. The flight instructor said the pilot overcorrected to the right and then back to the left. The flight instructor then got on the controls with the pilot, and, as the aircraft turned right a second time, the turn progressed into a ground loop. Subsequently, the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing was bent up. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1544A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1544A), registered now, S/N 20-740 (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: 20-740 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hutchinson Darrold K - Registered owner: Hutchinson Darrold K - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2009 - Departed: BZN, Bozeman, MT - Destination: HVR, Havre, MT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BZN, Gallatin Field Airport, runway 12, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 9,464 total, 50 in this make and model, 8,337 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 1 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: BZN ## 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 20090905016389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090905016389A), Sep 5, 2009: Piper PA20, Bozeman, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 05, 2009, at 1320 local time, a Piper PA-20, N1544A, registered to [privacy data omitted], ground looped on takeoff at the kbzn (Bozeman… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74672. 982 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 982 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318925&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.