# NTSB CEN26LA078: Piper PA-22-160, N8877D, Sealy, TX, January 4, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 4, 2026, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Sealy, TX - Coordinates: 29.7808, -96.1572 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7808&lon=-96.1572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202252 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202252/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202252 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA078 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose wheel during landing that resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and flight instructor departed from a grass airstrip and performed flight training maneuvers in the local area prior to returning to the airstrip. During the landing to the airstrip with no wind present, the airplane nose wheel turned right, and it did not respond to control inputs. The airplane departed the runway surface and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude on a grass field near the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and the nose wheel was found collapsed. The flight instructor stated that the nose wheel had failed during the landing, and it did not respond to rudder inputs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8877D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8877D), registered now, S/N 22-6051, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6051 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 2942.81 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O320-B2A 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 1XA7, Gloster Aerodrome, runway 20, 3,400 × 90 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; foreign, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 19, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,500 total, 30 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 4, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 205 total, 13 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TME, 8 nm away ## 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 20260104003139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260104003139A), Jan 4, 2026: Piper PA-22-160, Sealy, TX, Substantial damage. During landing aircraft departed the runway to the right and impacted nose first on the upslope of a drainage ditch. Substantial damage to left wing,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202252. 9.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19990083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 936 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20242302&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.