# NTSB WPR10CA030: Piper PA18, N83281, Chandler, AZ, October 24, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 24, 2009, 08:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.269165, -111.811111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2692&lon=-111.8111&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74950
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74950/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74950
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA030

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.

## 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-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, the airplane started to drift to the right as he approached to land, at which time he corrected with left rudder. The student pilot stated, "As the plane touched down it entered a left turn and continued for 270 degrees before coming to a stop just off the runway." A postaccident examination revealed that the right wing had sustained substantial damage as a result of impact with terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, while approaching to land the airplane started to drift to the right, at which time he corrected with left rudder. The student pilot stated, "As the plane touched down it entered a left turn and continued for 270 degrees before coming to a stop just off the runway." A post accident examination revealed that the right wing had sustained substantial damage as a result of impact with terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83281](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83281), registered now, S/N 18-7609064, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (A150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7609064
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Chandler Air Service Inc.
- Registered owner: Chandler Air Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2009, 56 hours before
- Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ
- Destination: CHD, Chandler, AZ
- Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal Airport, runway 04R, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: CHD

## 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 20091024021759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091024021759A), Oct 24, 2009: Piper PA18150, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. This was a solo flight for Mr. Govig, he landed just a little off centerline of the runway, and while correcting back to centerline he lost control and ground…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74950. 771 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 771 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321314&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.

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