# Accident 20020511009779A: Piper PA22135, Reno, NV, May 11, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2002, 14:45 local time
- Place: Reno, NV
- Airport: Reno/Stead Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6672° N, 119.8756° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6672&lon=-119.8756&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3772A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3772A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-135 (registry code 7102206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22135
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511009779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON MAY 11, 2002, AT 1450 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-22-135, N3772A, VEERED OFF RUNWAY 8 AND GROUND LOOPED WHILE LANDING AT THE RENO STEAD AIRPORT, RENO, NEVADA. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE RENO STEAD AIRPORT AT 1445 TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT THE AIRPORT. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO DO A FEW PATTERN CIRCUITS TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AND WAS USING RUNWAY 8. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST LANDING. JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE HIT WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS SOME SORT OF HUMP IN THE PAVEMENT AND BOUNCED UP IN THE AIR AGAIN. HE ADDED SOME POWER TO CUSHION THE TOUCHDOWN AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE INFIELD AREA. IT TOUCHED DOWN IN THE DIRT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT SAID HE IS NOT CERTAIN, BUT HE THINKS HE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND THAT HELPED INDUCE THE LOSS OF CONTROL. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT PRECEDED THE LOSS OF CONTROL. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR FROM THE RENO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE, REPORTED THAT THERE IS A SMALL HUMP IN THE PAVEMENT NEAR THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 8. (-23) PILOT STATED THAT AFTER INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, HE CROSSED A SLIGHT RISE ON THE RUNWAY AND GOT AIRBORNE AGAIN. ATTEMPTING TO TOUCHDOWN SOFTLY THE SECOND TIME, HE APPLIED POWER. AS THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED IT WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY HIT BY A GUST OF WIND WHICH CAUSED THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL ON THE TOUCHDOWN AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT LEAVING THE RUNWAY. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT TIPPED FORWARD ON IT'S NOSE. NO INJURIES. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE INCLUDED RIGHT GEAR STRUT BENT, ENGINE FIREWALL BUCKLED, PROP BENT AND SCARRED, ENGINE COWLING BENT AND CRACKED, LEFT WING LEADING EDGE SCRAPED AND RIGHT WING BOW SLIGHTLY DAMAGED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX02LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA158), May 11, 2002: Piper PA-22-135 (N3772A), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control. A factor was the hump in the runway.

## Other reports on N3772A (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19811111083129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811111083129I), Nov 11, 1981: Piper PA22135 (N3772A), Perris, CA, Minor damage. Ran out of fuel, landed in field, added auto gas, could not find airport, returned to field, collapsed nose gear.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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