# NTSB WPR24LA316: Aviat A-1A, N56TA, Taft, CA, September 22, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 21, 2024, 17:30 local (Sep 22, 2024, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Taft, CA · dirt strip near rural residences - Coordinates: 35.153489, -119.22965 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1535&lon=-119.2297&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195227 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195227/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA316 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## 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: [Aviat A-1A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [Aviat A-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210405), [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: [Aviat A-1A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210405), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the flight instructor and pilot undergoing instruction (student) performed multiple landings at an airport without incident before heading to the student’s private dirt airstrip. Upon arriving at the airstrip, the instructor demonstrated one landing. The student performed the second landing, and during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the right. Both the student and flight instructor applied the left rudder and brake in an attempt to correct back to the airstrip; however, the airplane continued to veer off the right side of the airstrip, where it struck a dirt mound and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage and tail sections. A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2024, about 1743 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc. A-1A, N56TA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Taft, California. The flight instructor and pilot-rated student were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Both pilots reported performing several landings at Shafter Airport-Minter Field (MIT), Shafter, California, without incident. The flight then departed for the student’s residence to conduct some off-airport landings at his dirt airstrip. The first landing was completed by the flight instructor without incident. The second landing was completed by the student. The flight instructor stated that the landing was normal and when the student attempted to slow down with the power at idle and the stick in the aft position, the airplane began to pull to the right. The student pilot tried to correct the movement with left rudder and brake, but the airplane continued to the right. The instructor reported that he also applied full left rudder and brake to no avail. The airplane continued off the side of the airstrip, where it struck a dirt mound and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the brake system revealed that the brake master cylinder, hydraulic lines, and hardware were intact with no obvious leaks or breaks in the system. Both wheels were manually rotated, and the brakes were activated inside the cockpit, with a corresponding stoppage of the wheel. Additionally, when the brakes were engaged, no sponginess was felt. Both pilots reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56TA), registered now, S/N 1420, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1A - Registry model: [Aviat A-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a) (registry code 2210405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1420 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 803.36 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2024 - Departed: MIT, Shafter, CA - Destination: Taft, CA - Airport: na, Pvt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2011; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,809 total, 18 in this make and model, 9.1 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,826 total, 21.2 in this make and model, 2,735 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 2.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KBFL, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KBFL 220054Z 30009KT 10SM CLR 32/11 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP088 T03220111= ## 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 20240921020519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240921020519A), Sep 21, 2024: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1A, Taft, CA, Substantial damage. The instructional flight began at shafter minter field, where 18 landings were completed. The flight then proceeded south to private Property, where one… 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.