San Carlos Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Carlos, California 94070
Sunday, December 8, 2013 13:31 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the landing, in a tailwheel equipped airplane, was uneventful. During the landing roll, he lost control of the airplane which ground looped to the right. The left wing and elevator impacted the ground and both sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/8/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1331
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City San Carlos
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94070
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 373025N
Event Location Longitude 1221235E
Event Location Airport San Carlos Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SQL
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 5
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1347 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SQL
Elevation of weather observation facility 5
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.25
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) 32591
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 3 2014 8:29PM
User who most recently changed record lins-i
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6913
NTSB Number WPR14CA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 16
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 16-642
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Jun 24 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 2727
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name COOPER STEVEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NEW YORK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10009
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name COOPER STEVEN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NEW YORK
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 10009
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 No
Departure Airport Code LVK
Departure City Livermore
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SQL
Destination City San Carlos
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2014 1:41PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --