# Accident 20250920015599A: Piper PA-22-150, Merritt Island, FL, September 20, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 2025, 18:55 local time
- Place: Merritt Island, FL
- Airport: Merritt Island
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.3419° N, 80.6865° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3419&lon=-80.6865&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3429Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3429Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-150 (registry code 7102210, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320-A2B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,967 total, 470 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA364) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250920015599A

## Narrative

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

MERRITT ISLAND, FL (COI): N3429Z, PA22, (DELAYED NOTIFICATION)

UPON LANDING GROUND LOOPED AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH.

AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO THE RAMP. POB: 3, INJURIES: NONE,

DAMAGE: SUBSTANTIAL. 09/20/2025 1855 LOCAL.

PILOT STATEMENT: A FEW SECONDS AFTER A NORMAL THREE POINT LANDING THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO A STOP IN A DRAINAGE DITCH.

PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA25LA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA364), Sep 20, 2025: Piper PA22 (N3429Z), Merritt Island, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind.

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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