# NTSB WPR14CA326: Piper PA20 - Undesignat, N7462K, Dayton, OR, August 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 3, 2014, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Dayton, OR - Coordinates: 45.179164, -123.197776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1792&lon=-123.1978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89798/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89798 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA326 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on an unsuitable surface, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had made 3 landings at unimproved landing sites on the morning prior to the accident with no issues. Subsequently, while landing on a gravel beach and after the main landing gear touched down with the tail wheel still elevated above the terrain, both main landing gear sank into a soft spot in the gravel; the airplane stopped and nosed over. The substantial damage to the airplane included the engine mount, front wing struts, the top of the rudder, and wing ribs being bent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot had made 3 landings at unimproved landing sites on the morning prior to the accident with no issues. Subsequently, while landing on a gravel beach and after the main landing gear touched down with the tail wheel still elevated above the terrain, both main landing gear sank into a soft spot in the gravel; the airplane stopped and nosed over. The substantial damage to the airplane included the engine mount, front wing struts, the top of the rudder, and wing ribs being bent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7462K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7462K), registered now, S/N 20-373, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA20 - UNDESIGNAT (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-373 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 2668 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Graham L Goad - Registered owner: Graham L Goad - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 2013, 28 hours before - Departed: MMV, McMinnville, OR - Destination: MMV, McMinnville, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,986 total, 828 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: MMV, 7 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 20140803011949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140803011949A), Aug 3, 2014: Piper PA-20, Dayton, OR, Substantial damage. While attempting to make the third landing on a willamette river island (45.13.03W ? 123.02.54N) directly east of the town of Dayton Oregon, the pilot touched… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89798. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416969&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.