Old Bridge Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Old Bridge, New Jersey 08831
Monday, November 3, 2014 11:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, while in the landing flare, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to roll to the left. He applied right aileron to counteract the roll and provide wind correction; however, as the airplane decelerated during the landing roll, it lacked rudder authority to counteract a gust of wind from the right. The airplane ground looped 180 degrees to the right, and the left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the outboard portion of the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Recorded wind velocity at a nearby airport about the time of the accident was 15 knots, with gusts to 25 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of control while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/3/2014
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Old Bridge
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08831
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401948N
Event Location Longitude 0742048W
Event Location Airport OLD BRIDGE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3N6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 39
Airport Elevation 87
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1135 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID BLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 164
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33531
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROCC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2014 5:49PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7102D
NTSB Number ERA15CA043
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 22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4959
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name HARTEVELD DREW J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MAPLEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07040-1143
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name HARTEVELD DREW J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MAPLEWOOD
Operator State NJ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 07040-1143
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 SMQ
Departure City SOMERVILLE
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 3N6
Destination City Old Bridge
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2014 5:49PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 3594
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --