Probable cause
A failure of the throttle control during a landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a fence.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, following a “smooth” landing, he reduced power, but the throttle control broke and the engine advanced to full power. The pilot immediately placed the mixture control in the lean position, but the airplane overran the runway onto a road. The left wing of the airplane subsequently contacted a fence, the airplane rotated left 180° and impacted a fencepost before it came to rest. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR21LA079 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 1, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Riverside, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Private (PRIV)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-20-135
- N-number
- N1571A
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1951
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.