# Accident 20211203022169A: Piper PA-22-135, Tahlequah, OK, December 3, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 2021, 13:30 local time
- Place: Tahlequah, OK
- Airport: Tahlequah Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9303° N, 95.0045° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9303&lon=-95.0045&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3372A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3372A-2023-05-10) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211203022169A

## Narrative

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

?	THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 3, 2021; HOWEVER, THE FAA AND NTSB WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT UNTIL DECEMBER 8, 2021. ON DECEMBER 8, 2021, AN AIRPLANE FLYING IN THE LOCAL AREA OBSERVED THE INVERTED AIRPLANE IN TALL GRASS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS NOTIFIED.

?	THE PILOT, STATIONED IN THE LEFT SEAT, REPORTED THERE WAS AN INFLIGHT FAILURE OF THE RUDDER SYSTEM, AS THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL WAS STUCK IN THE FULL LEFT POSITION ON SHORT FINAL. THE PILOT REPORTED HE MADE SURE THE PASSENGER, STATIONED IN THE RIGHT SEAT, DID NOT HAVE HIS FEET RESTING ON THE RUDDER PEDALS.

?	THE LEFT-WING LIFT STRUT, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND THE RUDDER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE NOSE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND LOWER ENGINE COWLING SUSTAINED IMPACT DAMAGE.

?	FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE AIRFRAME. THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE FREELY MANIPULATED BACK AND FORTH BY HAND, WITH NO FEEDBACK, BINDING, RESISTANCE, OR SLOPPINESS.

?	PRE-ACCIDENT FLIGHT CONTROL RIGGING SETTINGS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE AIRFRAME DAMAGE SUSTAINED.

?	THE LEFT- AND RIGHT-WING FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND WITH THE FUEL CAPS ATTACHED. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF BEING BREACHED OR ANY IMPACT DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF A FUEL LEAK ON THE AIRFRAME.

?	THE LEFT- AND RIGHT-WING FUEL TANKS WERE CHECKED, VIA THE SUMPS, AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND.

## 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 CEN22LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA066), Dec 3, 2021: Piper PA-22-135 (N3372A), Tahlequah, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of yaw control while on final approach, which resulted in the pilot performing an off-runway landing, and a subsequent nose over. The reason for the loss of yaw control could not be determined…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.