# Accident 20210312002659A: Piper PA-22-135, Orcus Island, WA, March 12, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 12, 2021, 12:17 local time
- Place: Orcus Island, WA
- Airport: Eastsound
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.7078° N, 122.9099° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7078&lon=-122.9099&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1224C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1224C) (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 PA-22-135
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210312002659A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 12, 2021, PILOT WAS FLYING A PA-22-135 PACER AIRCRAFT, WHICH HAS CONVENTIONAL (TAILWHEEL) LANDING GEAR. HE WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO EASTSOUND AIRPORT (KORS) ORCAS ISLAND, WHICH IS AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT (NO CONTROL TOWER). PILOT APPROACHED RUNWAY 16 FOR LANDING. PILOT DID NOT DO A FLYOVER TO VISUALLY CHECK THE WINDSOCK FOR LANDING DIRECTION. THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 16. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT; IT DID A GROUND LOOP CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE. AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT NOTICED HE HAD A QUARTERING TAILWIND.

## 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 WPR21LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA132), Mar 12, 2021: Piper PA-22-135 (N1224C), Eastsound, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a tailwind, which resulted in a landing gear collapse and collision with terrain.

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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