- Date
- August 12, 2012, 15:08 local (22:08 UTC)
- Place
- Napa, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3580APiper PA-22
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 5, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120812020739A
- Case key
- 84647
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 landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.
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 while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a slight crab, it bounced upon touchdown. She was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered off of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a slight crab, it bounced on touchdown. She was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered off of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3580A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1855
- Airframe hours
- 1,895
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Brian Harkins
- Registered owner
- Brian Harkins
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 2, 2011 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- APC · Napa, CA
- Destination
- APC · Napa, CA
- Airport
- APC · Napa County Airport, runway 18R, 5,931 × 150 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
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 24, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 97 total · 15 in this make and model · 32 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APC
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 844 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.