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WPR14CA120

2014-02-22 · Scappoose, Oregon, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SPB

Current FAA registration · N5626H

Make / Model
PIPER PA-16
Year of manufacture
1949 · 65 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560618
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A7318A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention and inadequate preflight inspection.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that prior to the flight he removed an insulating blanket and heat source from the tailwheel equipped airplane, and conducted his preflight inspection. Following a normal engine run up, he initiated takeoff, where he thought the airplane seemed sluggish and that the rate of climb didn't feel normal. The pilot determined that the engine was not making full power, and decided to land at a nearby airport with a larger runway. Following an uneventful landing, the pilot diverted his attention to the engine instruments. Subsequently, the airplane swerved to the right, and the right main landing gear folded underneath the fuselage, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the right wing spar was bent. The pilot added that he found an insulating cover over the carburetor air intake and that was the reason for the reduced power. The pilot reported that prior to the flight he removed an insulating blanket and heat source from the tailwheel equipped airplane, and conducted his preflight inspection. Following a normal engine run up, he initiated takeoff, where he thought the airplane seemed sluggish and that the rate of climb didn't feel normal. The pilot determined that the engine was not making full power, and decided to land at a nearby airport with a larger runway. Following an uneventful landing, the pilot diverted his attention to the engine instruments. Subsequently, the airplane swerved to the right, and the right main landing gear folded underneath the fuselage, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the right wing spar was bent. The pilot added that he found an insulating cover over the carburetor air intake and that was the reason for the reduced power. 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
  • F Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot - F
  • F Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_WPR14CA120.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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