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GAA19CA317

2019-06-05 · Paducah, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2TS5

Current FAA registration · N78641

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

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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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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