# NTSB WPR12CA343: Piper PA-22-160, N9626D, White City, OR, August 3, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 3, 2012, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: White City, OR
- Coordinates: 42.538887, -122.903892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5389&lon=-122.9039&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84573
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA343
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84573/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84573
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA343

## Probable cause

The student pilot's attempt to keep the airplane airborne and continue the takeoff after the airplane bounced off the turf runway prematurely during the takeoff roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [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-22-160, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The owner/student pilot flew from her home airport to an airstrip she had been to previously. The departure, flight, and landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. After shutdown at the destination airport, the pilot refueled by topping off both 18-gallon wing tanks. After that, she initiated her departure from the 3,000-foot dirt/turf runway. According to the pilot, the airplane's main landing gear bungee cords had recently been replaced and were significantly stiffer than the old ones, which caused the airplane to bounce more than she was used to on the dirt strip. At some point, the airplane bounced up off the runway, and the pilot pulled the control stick aft in order to remain airborne. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot was unable to control or correct that turn. She applied more back pressure to climb over the hangar in her path and attempted to climb over the trees beyond the hangar. However, the airplane struck the trees and descended rapidly into a small clearing about 1,300 feet down the runway and about 400 feet from the runway centerline, where it stopped. Fire erupted almost immediately, but the pilot was able to exit through a cabin door. Much of the fabric-covered airplane and its contents were consumed by the fire. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane and that the wind was light and variable at the time. She also stated that the airplane became airborne prematurely due to the bounce and that she should have forced the airplane back onto the ground until it obtained sufficient speed for flight.

## Factual narrative

The owner/student pilot flew from her home airport to an airstrip she had been to previously. The departure, flight, and landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. After shutdown at the destination airport, the pilot refueled by topping off both 18-gallon wing tanks. After that, she initiated her departure from the dirt/turf runway, which measured 3,000 feet by 130 feet. According to the pilot, the airplane's main landing gear bungee cords had recently been replaced, and were significantly stiffer than the old ones, which caused the airplane to bounce more than she was used to on the dirt strip. At some point the airplane bounced up off the runway, and the pilot pulled the control stick aft in order to remain airborne, and to fly away. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot was unable to control or correct that turn. She applied more back pressure to climb over the hangar in her path, and attempted to climb over the trees beyond the hangar. However, the airplane struck the trees, and descended rapidly into a small clearing about 1,300 feet down the runway and about 400 from the runway centerline, where it stopped. Fire broke out almost immediately, but the pilot was able to exit though a cabin door. Much of the fabric-covered airplane and its contents were consumed by the fire. In her accident form provided to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. She reported that winds were light and variable at the time. She also concluded that the airplane became airborne prematurely due to the bounce, and that she should have forced the airplane back onto the ground until it obtained sufficient speed for flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9626D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9626D-2018-01-10), registration cancelled 2018-01-10, S/N 22-6538, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-6538
- Airframe hours: 3575
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Newton Grace M
- Registered owner: Newton Grace M
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2012
- Departed: LKV, Lakeview, OR
- Destination: OR96, White City, OR
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: OR96, Beagle Sky Ranch, runway 15, 3,000 × 130 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20120803016239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120803016239A), Aug 3, 2012: Piper PA-22-160, White City, OR, Destroyed. After flying from lakeview,OR to Beagle Sky Ranch, OR, pilot was taking off when she clipped an oak tree and crashed. Aircraft was subsequently destroyed in…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84573. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- FAA Pilot Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377672&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Airport Owners (item 4, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Airport%20Owners-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement and Site Map (item 5, .PDF, 1 photo, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377674&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20and%20Site%20Map-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Communication - CFI (item 6, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377675&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Communication%20-%20CFI-Master.PDF
- Accident Site Diagrams (item 7, .PDF, 2 photos, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377676&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Diagrams-Master.PDF
- Side View of Wreckage (item 8, .PDF, 240 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Side%20View%20of%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- Front View of Wreckage (item 9, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Front%20View%20of%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- METARs (item 10, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.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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