# NTSB CEN25LA222: Piper PA-22-135, N2300A, Sweetwater, TX, June 26, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 26, 2025, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Sweetwater, TX - Coordinates: 32.467361, -100.46655 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4674&lon=-100.4665&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 200400 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200400/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200400 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA222 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, a gusty crosswind lifted the tail of the airplane, and he lost directional control. The pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane; however, when the tail wheel contacted the runway again, the airplane swerved to the right and exited the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted terrain which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot landed on runway 22 with wind variable between 150° and 200°at 9 kts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2300A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2300A), registered now, S/N 22-687, built 1952 (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: 22-687 - Year built: 1952 - Engines: Lycoming O320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Destination: KCHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: SWW, Avenger Field, runway 22, 5,658 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 289.1 total, 39 in this make and model, 98.7 as pilot in command, 40.5 in the last 90 days, 24.6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KSWW - METAR: KSWW 261715Z AUTO 20009KT 150V220 10SM 33/15 A3010 ## 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 20250626006959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250626006959A), Jun 26, 2025: Piper PA-22-135, Sweetwater, TX, Substantial damage. On June 26, 2025, at 1219 CDT, a PA-22-135 registered to a private individual ground looped upon landing roll out at Avenger Fld (sww) in Sweetwater, TX. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200400. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19095252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=digitalform_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 713 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19095206&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.