19980725025049A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-22-135 · Rock Springs, WY · July 25, 1998

Date: July 25, 1998 · 15:00 local
Place: Rock Springs, WY
Airport: Rock Springs Sweetwater Count
Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1202C
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW98LA332
Reported as: Piper PA22135
Reported engine: Lycoming O290D2
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 280 total

N1202CRegistration cancelled Oct 20, 2008 · Piper PA-22-135S/N 22-1010 · Built 1953 Airframe modelPiper PA-22-135 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot said a gust of wind 'caught him and he was unable to maintain directional control.' The airplane ground looped, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The left wing struck the ground, damaging the tip, and the propeller also sustained ground strike damage. In the weather section of his accident report, the pilot indicated the wind was calm. (-23)pilot failed to maintain control of aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT SAID A GUST OF WIND 'CAUGHT HIM AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.' THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED, CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, DAMAGING THE TIP, AND THE PROPELLER ALSO SUSTAINED GROUND STRIKE DAMAGE. IN THE WEATHER SECTION OF HIS ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PILOT INDICATED THE WIND WAS CALM. (-23)PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW98LA332Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRock Springs, WYThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and an inadvertent ground loop/swerve.Jul 25, 1998 · Substantial damage