# NTSB CEN22LA066: Piper PA-22-135, N3372A, Tahlequah, OK, December 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 3, 2021, 12:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Tahlequah, OK · East side of the runway at KTQH. - Coordinates: 35.930278, -95.004528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9303&lon=-95.0045&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Will Rogers FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104378/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104378 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA066 ## 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 based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane had recently been purchased by the passenger and they were transporting it to their home location via a cross-country flight. During a planned rest stop, the pilot maneuvered the airplane in the traffic pattern to land. As the pilot turned onto short final, he was attempting to align the airplane with the runway, and he noticed the yaw of the airplane was to the left and “hard.” The pilot made sure the right seat passenger did not have his feet resting on the rudder pedals. The pilot noticed the left rudder pedal was all the way forward against the firewall and he was unable to free it by manipulating the rudder pedals back and forth. The pilot then decided to land parallel to the runway, in dry, tall grass. During the landing, the airplane impacted several saplings, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot and passenger were able to egress without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. A post-accident examination of the airframe established flight control continuity and no signs of foreign object debris were found lodged in or around the rudder pedals. Pre-accident flight control rigging settings could be not determined due to the airframe damage sustained. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3372A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3372A-2023-05-10), registration cancelled 2023-05-10, S/N 22-1630, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-1630 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 2535 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2021 - Departed: K26, Carrollton, MO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TQH, Tahlequah Muni, runway 17/35, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 900 total, 12 in this make and model, 850 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTQH - METAR: KTQH 031755Z AUTO 19005KT 10SM CLR 25/11 A2995 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20211203022169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211203022169A), Dec 3, 2021: Piper PA-22-135, Tahlequah, OK, Destroyed. ? 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… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104378. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13050080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13049919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Federal aviation administration record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20LA066%20FAA%20ASI%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Additional documents (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13049639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents%20Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.