NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA19CA317
Registry · N78641
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-11
Year of manufacture
1947 · 72 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560421
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AAA9CE
Registrant of record
METZ DANIEL J
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing on a road in crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane exiting the road and subsequently nosing over.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was concerned about the condition of the landing and taxi surfaces of the private, grass airstrip due to heavy rainfall. He over flew the field but was unable to determine the condition. He determined it would be safer to land on the "Farm Road" perpendicular to the runway. Upon landing on the road, the airplane suddenly veered to the right, he applied opposite rudder, but the airplane exited the road, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 360° at 7 knots. The airplane was landing to the west. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was concerned about the condition of the landing and taxi surfaces of the private, grass airstrip due to heavy rainfall. He overflew the field but was unable to determine the condition. He determined that it would be safer to land on a road perpendicular to the runway. Upon landing on the road, the airplane suddenly veered right. The pilot applied opposite rudder, but the airplane exited the road and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 360° at 7 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane to the west. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
- C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C
- — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Effect on operation
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2019_GAA19CA317.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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