- Date
- May 19, 2012, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Norwich, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3956PPiper PA-22-150
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 15, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120519010259A
- Case key
- 83715
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 inability to maintain directional control during a landing with a deflated left main landing gear tire.
Findings · 3
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
About 400 feet into the third landing roll, the airplane began pulling to the left. The pilot corrected to the right using the rudder, and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s left tire was deflated. Fragments of the tire and skid marks were observed on the runway. The pilot reported that the windsock at the accident airport indicated light wind from the south around the time of the accident. The cause of the deflated tire could not be determined.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, the flight was to accomplish a biennial flight review. During the third landing, approximately 400 feet into the landing rollout, the aircraft began pulling to the left. The pilot applied correction to the right utilizing the rudder, and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. After the airplane came to rest and the occupants exited the airplane, the left tire was noted as deflated and fragments of the tire were observed on the runway as well as skid marks. The wind around the time of the accident, at an airport 29 miles from the accident location was recorded as calm; the pilot reported that he had observed the windsock and it had indicated light winds from the south at the accident airport around the time of the accident. The cause of the deflated tire could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3956P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-3634
- Airframe hours
- 2,598
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 20, 2012
- Departed
- OIC · Norwich, NY
- Destination
- OIC · Norwich, NY
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- OIC · Lt Warren Eaton Airport, runway 19, 4,724 × 75 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 15, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 725 total · 391 in this make and model · 665 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 10, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,352 total · 0 in this make and model · 1,202 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- BGM, 29 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 MB 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.