# NTSB WPR20LA314: Piper PA30, N7669Y, Homer, AK, September 12, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 11, 2020, 20:43 local (Sep 12, 2020, 04:43 UTC) - Place: Homer, AK - Coordinates: 59.645832, -151.47555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6458&lon=-151.4755&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA314 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare which resulted in a hard bounced landing and runway excursion. ## 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-30, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-30, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was seated in the right seat and the pilot-rated passenger of a twin-engine airplane was in the left seat. During the approach for landing, the pilot had his hand on the throttles and was providing input on the flight controls. The pilot-rated passenger reported that she also was giving some input on the controls with the pilot coaching her. The pilot reported that before landing, he asked the passenger to assure that her feet were not on the pedals. The passenger reported that on touchdown, the airplane bounced, and she released her hands from the controls so that she would not interfere with the pilot’s actions. The pilot reported that after the airplane touched down the second time, the airplane veered to the left. He added full right rudder input then added full power to the left engine in an attempt to regain control. Braking action is not available from the right seat position. Despite his actions the airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The aft empennage separated, and the wings were substantially damaged. The extent of damage was consistent with a hard landing. The brakes were not examined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7669Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7669Y-2023-04-05), registration cancelled 2023-04-05, S/N 30-746, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-746 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 5650 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: G & A O'Connor - Registered owner: G & A O'Connor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2020 - Departed: ANC, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AHO, Homer Airport, runway 22, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,426 total, 46 in this make and model, 4,045 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: PAHO, 1 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 20200911017939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200911017939A), Sep 11, 2020: Piper PA-30, Homer, AK, Destroyed. The pilot and commercially rated passenger made a hard landing at Homer Alaska, and veered off the left side of runway 22. The pilot in command reported that… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102020. 8.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot-rated passenger's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Abigail%20O%27Connor%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Email-piper aircraft information, single position brake assembly (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12990106&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1965%20Piper%20PA-30%20Twin%20Comanche,%20s_n%2030-746_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Piper PA-30 POH excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12989654&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Page%209%20from%20753-644%20AOH_PA-30_1963-1965-Rel.pdf - Photo array-courtesy of the airport manager (item 5, PDF, 11 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12990096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Airport%20Manager-Rel.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.