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GAA15CA273

2015-09-19 · Marshfield, Massachusetts, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GHG

Current FAA registration · N6932K

Make / Model
PIPER PA-20
Year of manufacture
1950 · 65 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560505
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A93883

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that on final approach, he realized he was above the normal glide path and performed a forward slip to lose altitude. At the conclusion of the slip, the airplane had a higher than normal approach airspeed. The pilot planned to make a wheel landing and when the airplane touched down, it landed hard, and bounced twice. The pilot then decided to alter his landing to a three point landing after the bounce. At touchdown the airplane "fishtailed" and started to veer left. The pilot was unable to correct the veer with control inputs, the airplane continued off the runway to the left and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that on final approach, he realized he was above the normal glide path and performed a forward slip to lose altitude. At the conclusion of the slip, the airplane had a higher than normal approach airspeed. The pilot planned to make a wheel landing and when the airplane touched down, it landed hard, and bounced twice. The pilot then decided to alter his landing to a three point landing after the bounce. At touchdown the airplane "fishtailed" and started to veer left. The pilot was unable to correct the veer with control inputs, the airplane continued off the runway to the left and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA15CA273.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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