# NTSB WPR24LA107: Piper PA-11, N78659, Death Valley, CA, March 9, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 9, 2024, 10:39 local (18:39 UTC)
- Place: Death Valley, CA · (L06) Furnace Creek
- Coordinates: 36.46, -116.88
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4600&lon=-116.8800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193918/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193918
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA107

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, resulting in a ground loop and runway excursion.

## 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-11, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101102), [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-11, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101102), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing rollout and as the airplane slowed, rudder inputs became less effective. The airplane began to veer to the left, then departed the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane struck a runway sign located approximately 30 ft from the runway, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78659](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78659), registered now, S/N 11-1420 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11-1420
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 6116
- Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2023, 21 hours before
- Departed: KIYK, Inyokern, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: L06, Furnace Creek, runway 33, 3,065 × 70 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 206 total, 103 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 9 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KDRA, 42 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDRA 091753Z AUTO 12009KT 10SM CLR 11/M13 A3019

## 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 20240309003489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240309003489A), Mar 9, 2024: Piper PA-11, Death Valley, NV, Substantial damage. Upon landing pilot failed to check windsock while conducting overflight of airfield. The pilot landed with a tailwind and lost rudder authority, lost control…

## Other investigations on N78659 (2)

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.

- [NTSB CEN10IA447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10IA447), Jul 27, 2010: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Ripon, WI, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The inability of either pilot to see the other airplane due to the blind spot created by their respective airplane's wings.
- [NTSB NYC99LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA117), May 21, 1999: Piper PA-11 (N78659), Leesburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's (CFI) failure to maintain control of the airplane.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193918. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16882653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA107%20pilot%206120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Damage photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16909632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA107%20photo%20array-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.

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