Piper PA-20 N5595H

Summary

On 8 September 2003 at about 15:00 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N5595H was involved in an accident near Wausau, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 September 2003 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wausau, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Wausau Muni (AUW)

Coordinates

44.9261, -89.6267

Aircraft

Piper PA-20

Registration

N5595H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wausau → Wausau

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA308

Nobody was injured.

The excessive free play resulting in a loose tail wheel assembly and a failure of the flight crew to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when the aircraft ground looped during the landing roll. The flight instructor stated that an "uneventful 3-point landing was performed." He reported that during the rollout the aircraft began to drift toward the left. The dual student reportedly applied right rudder and the aircraft responded. However, the aircraft continued to track to the right, and despite full left rudder being applied, the aircraft did not "straighten out." When the aircraft reached the edge of the runway it "immediately ground looped to the right." The left wing tip and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the ground and were damaged. A post accident investigation revealed the tail wheel free play was approximately 3-1/2 inches. Tail wheel control continuity was verified. No other anomalies were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.