NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR14CA288
Registry · N4842H
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-17
Year of manufacture
1948 · 66 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19570725
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5FA1B
Registrant of record
PHILLABAUM STEPHEN D
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported while taxiing a tailwheel equipped airplane from the runway, the airplane began to turn left. The pilot applied opposite rudder however, the turn sharpened and he "aggressively" applied the right brake which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing when the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported while taxiing a tailwheel equipped airplane from the runway, the airplane began to turn left. The pilot applied opposite rudder however, the turn sharpened and he "aggressively" applied the right brake which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing when the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Not attained/maintained
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2014_WPR14CA288.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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