# NTSB ERA21LA038: Piper PA22, N3225B, Warner Robins, GA, November 1, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 1, 2020, 15:24 local (20:24 UTC)
- Place: Warner Robins, GA
- Coordinates: 32.560639, -83.67675 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5606&lon=-83.6767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102243/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102243
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA038

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper compensation for shifting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a subsequent nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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)
- [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

During a full-stop landing attempt, the pilot realized that the wind had shifted from a crosswind to a tailwind. After touchdown, he realized insufficient runway remained to abort the landing, so he applied maximum wheel braking. He made a wide, right turn to help decelerate the airplane, during which the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3225B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3225B), registered now, S/N 22-2053, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (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: 22-2053
- Year built: 1954
- Airframe hours: 3561
- Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2019, 32 hours before
- Airport: 5A2, Warner Robins Airpark, runway 09, 2,833 × 130 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 413 total, 269 in this make and model, 396 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 16 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: WRB, 6 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 20201101019729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201101019729A), Nov 1, 2020: Piper PA-22-135, Warner Robins, GA, Substantial damage. On November 1, 2020, at approximately 3:00 p.m. eastern daylight time, a 1954 Piper aircraft, model PA-22-135, with registration N3225B, sustained substantial…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102243. 13.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 9.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11805580&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11805966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11805482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11806225&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.

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