# NTSB WPR14CA033: Tecnam P92, N137LM, Watsonville, CA, October 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 22, 2013, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.935832, -121.789443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9358&lon=-121.7894&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 88313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88313/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88313 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600045), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600045), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0600045), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600045), [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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600045), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in the traffic pattern, the airplane's right rudder stopped responding. She aligned the airplane with the runway for landing and touched down long. During the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control and the airplane departed the runway, and continued through the grass and dirt for about 500 feet. The front main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop on its nose. The engine's firewall and the tube frame behind the firewall were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while in the traffic pattern, the airplane's right rudder stopped responding. She aligned the airplane with the runway for landing and touched down long. During the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control and the airplane departed the runway, and continued through the grass and dirt for about 500 feet. The front main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop on its nose. The engine's firewall and the tube frame behind the firewall were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N137LM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N137LM), registered now, S/N 1252, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TECNAM P92 (EA) - Registry model: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET](https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-p92-eaglet) (registry code 0600045) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1252 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 1338 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ocean Air Flight Services, Inc. - Registered owner: Gryphon Aire LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2013 - Departed: WVI, Watsonville, CA - Destination: WVI, Watsonville, CA - Airport: WVI, Watsonville Municipal Arpt, runway 20, 4,501 × 149 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review March 25, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 220 total, 40 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: WVI ## 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 20131022022629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131022022629A), Oct 22, 2013: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 EAGLET, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft N137LM entered a left downwind traffic pattern at Watsonville at approximately 1406 local. The wind at the time as recorded by the national wether… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88313. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 831 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403980&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.