# NTSB WPR10CA338: Adams John R JR Piel Diamant, N278JA, Montezuma, UT, July 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2010, 19:45 local (Jul 3, 2010, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Montezuma, UT - Coordinates: 37.268611, -109.319442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2686&lon=-109.3194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76555/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76555 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA338 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from road signs during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams John R JR PIEL DIAMANT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=0563805), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams John R JR PIEL DIAMANT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=0563805), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams John R JR PIEL DIAMANT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0563805), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Adams John R JR PIEL DIAMANT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0563805), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on a cross country flight the pilot recognized that he had been using the wrong road to navigate to his destination. He decided to turn around and return to the departure airport. The pilot reported that he was concerned with the approaching night and decreasing light condition. As the amount of light continued to decrease he elected to make a precautionary landing on a road prior to reaching the departure airport. The pilot stated that either during the landing or taxi the underside of the wing was damaged by contact with a road marker. Further damage to the wing caused by contacting additional road markers occurred when the pilot taxied off the road to park the airplane and again when repositioning the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative While on a cross country flight the pilot recognized that he had been using the wrong road to navigate to his destination. He decided to turn around and return to the departure airport. The pilot reported that he was concerned with the approaching night and decreasing light condition. As the amount of light continued to decrease he elected to make a precautionary landing on a road prior to reaching the departure airport. The pilot stated that either during the landing or taxi the underside of the wing was damaged by contact with a road marker. Further damage to the wing caused by contacting additional road markers occurred when the pilot taxied off the road to park the airplane and again when repositioning the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N278JA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N278JA-2013-02-15), registration cancelled 2013-02-15, S/N 777 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ADAMS JOHN R JR PIEL DIAMANT - Registry model: [Adams John R JR PIEL DIAMANT](https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-john-r-jr-piel-diamant) (registry code 0563805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 777 - Airframe hours: 500 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-346 SERIES 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Narramore Todd I - Registered owner: Narramore Todd I - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 30, 2006 - Departed: 66V, Bluff, UT - Destination: KBDG, Blanding, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,460 total, 360 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KBDG, 24 nm away ## 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 20100703038929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100703038929A), Jul 3, 2010: Adams John PIEL DIAMAN, Blanding, UT, Substantial damage. On 07/03/2010 at approxmanitly 2045 MDT, a amatuer built piel diamant N278JA made a precautionary off airport landing on a hwy SR162 near montezuma, UT. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76555. 616 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332995&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.