- Date
- May 17, 2009, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Las Cruces, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8042DPiper PA-22-150
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090517006829A
- Case key
- 73852
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land on a runway with a prevailing crosswind.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot elected to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a runway with a direct crosswind. Moments later the airplane experienced a gust of wind and briefly went airborne. Once settled back to the ground, the airplane swerved to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing tip impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A review of airport information revealed that three runways were available for landing, one of which was nearly aligned with the prevailing winds. The airplane's right wing sustained structural damage during the accident. There were no reported malfunctions or failures with the airplane's controls.
Factual narrative
The pilot elected to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a runway with a direct crosswind. Moments later the airplane experienced a gust of wind and momentarily went airborne. Once settled back to the ground; the airplane swerved to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing tip impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A review of airport information revealed that three runways were available for landing, one of which was nearly aligned with the prevailing winds. The airplane's right wing sustained structural damage during the accident. There were no reported malfunctions or failures with the airplane's controls.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8042D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5567
- Airframe hours
- 3,959
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2009
- Departed
- CGZ · Casa Grande, AZ
- Destination
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Airport
- LRU · Las Cruces International, runway 22, 7,499 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 284 total · 144 in this make and model · 191 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 16 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.34 inHg
- Observed at
- LRU
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 627 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8042D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.