Napa County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Napa, California 94558
Sunday, August 12, 2012 15:08 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a slight crab, it bounced upon touchdown. She was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered off of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1508
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Napa
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94558
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 381247N
Event Location Longitude 1221650W
Event Location Airport Napa County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID APC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1445 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID APC
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30387
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 4 2012 5:37PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3580A
NTSB Number WPR12CA354
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-1855
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 2 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 1895
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Brian Harkins
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Benicia
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94510
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Brian Harkins
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Benicia
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 94510
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code APC
Departure City Napa
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code APC
Destination City Napa
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 25 2012 9:47AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18R
Runway Length 5931
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --