# NTSB WPR14CA064: Piper PA 16, N6913, San Carlos, CA, December 8, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2013, 13:31 local (21:31 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, CA - Coordinates: 37.489955, -122.259696 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4900&lon=-122.2597&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 May 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88535/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88535 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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-16, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101602), [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-16, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101602), [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-16, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the landing, in a tailwheel equipped airplane, was uneventful. During the landing roll, he lost control of the airplane which ground looped to the right. The left wing and elevator impacted the ground and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the landing, in a tailwheel equipped airplane, was uneventful. During the landing roll, he lost control of the airplane which ground looped to the right. The left wing and elevator impacted the ground and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6913](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6913), registered now, S/N 16-642, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 16 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16-642 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 2727 - Engines: Lycoming O235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cooper Steven - Registered owner: Cooper Steven - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 2013, 47 hours before - Departed: LVK, Livermore, CA - Destination: SQL, San Carlos, CA - Airport: SQL, San Carlos Airport, runway 12, 2,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 213 total, 169 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: SQL ## 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 20131208025119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131208025119A), Dec 8, 2013: Piper PA-16, San Carlos, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated she lost control of the aircraft upon landing and ground-looped. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88535. 330 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406720&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.