Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Washington, District of Columbia
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: New Market, Virginia
Accident Number: ERA20LA055
Date & Time: December 15, 2019, 13:00 Local
Registration: N1984A
Aircraft: Piper PA18
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Positioning
Factual Information
On December 15, 2019, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-18A, N1984A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident while landing at the New Market Airport (8W2), New Market, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to deliver the airplane from its previous owner to its new owner and that he had just landed "uneventfully" and purchased fuel at 8W2. After he purchased fuel, he completed a traffic pattern at 8W2, and planned a stop-and-go landing on runway 24 before continuing to Lonesome Pine Airport (LNP), Wise, Virginia.
According to the pilot, "I rounded out over the runway numbers and touched down approximately 150 feet past the threshold. As soon as the wheels touched the ground, the airplane immediately rolled right and pitched forward." The pilot made remedial flight control and braking inputs to maintain aircraft control "with no effect." The airplane continued 100 ft past its touchdown point and came to rest facing about 200° with the tailwheel on the runway centerline. The right main landing gear leg and the right main landing gear shock/dampener fractured, and the airplane rested on the left main gear, the tailwheel, and the right wing, which was substantially damaged.
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first class medical certificate was issued December 6, 2019. The pilot reported 768 total hours of flight experience, of which 4 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.
According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1952 and was powered by a Lycoming O320-B2B 160-horsepower engine. Its most recent annual inspection was completed August 1, 2019 at 4,343.9 total aircraft hours, and the airplane had accrued 23 hours since that date.
The pilot reported that, other than the landing gear collapse, there was nothing wrong with the performance and handling of the airplane.
The right main landing gear leg and the right main landing gear shock/dampener were retained and examined by an NTSB Materials Research Engineer. The examination revealed no pre-impact anomalies with the dampener or the gear leg, and that the fracture surfaces of each displayed features consistent with overload failure.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 23,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: December 6, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 768 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4 hours (Total, this make and model), 689 hours (Pilot In
Command, all aircraft), 98 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 26 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N1984A
Model/Series: PA18 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1952
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18-1808
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: August 21, 2019
Annual Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1499 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4343.9 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: O-320-B2B
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 160 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: 8W2,903 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 12:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5500 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 16 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 260°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / -4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Newmarket, VA (8W2)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Newmarket, VA (8W2)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 12:56 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: New Market Airport 8W2
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 963 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2920 ft / 60 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.656112,-78.70861(est)
