# NTSB ERA25LA178: Piper PA-22, N937A, Bethlehem, PA, April 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 18, 2025, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Bethlehem, PA - Coordinates: 40.655833, -75.436389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6558&lon=-75.4364&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2026 - 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): 200034 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200034/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200034 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA178 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting crosswind conditions. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102202), [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, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he intended to perform a solo flight and complete 3 takeoffs and landings at his home airport. Just prior to touchdown, the airplane encountered a left crosswind. After the airplane landed, a series of wind gusts pushed the airplane onto the nose landing gear and flipped the airplane over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and empennage. The pilot further stated that he recalled that the airport air traffic control tower controller reported a left crosswind during his takeoff clearance and during two other times before landing. The wind reported at the airport 6 minutes after the accident indicated a 30° left crosswind at 11 knots with gusts up to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N937A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N937A), registered now, S/N 22-241, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (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: 22-241 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 2689.7 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2025, 4 hours before - Airport: ABE, Lehigh Valley International Airport, runway 24, 7,599 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 23, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 106 total, 42 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 1 nm away - METAR: KABE 181442Z 21011G19KT 10SM CLR 18/03 A3021 RMK AO2 T01780033 ## 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 20250418003419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250418003419A), Apr 18, 2025: Piper PA-22, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. The student pilot was conducting a solo flight with the intention of performing several touch and go landings on runway 24 at abe. After the student departed… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200034. 15.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18673820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file surveillance camera abe ARFF station (item 2, MP4, 383 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18672419&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=ARFF%20Station%20PTZ%20-%20AOA-8-2025-04-18_10h35min47s000ms-Rel.mp4 - Memorandum for record student pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18694579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Robert%20Perkins-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 11.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18674406&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA178%20Photo%20Array_Redacted-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.