# NTSB ERA25LA364: Piper PA22, N3429Z, Merritt Island, FL, September 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 20, 2025, 18:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Merritt Island, FL - Coordinates: 28.341933, -80.686479 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3419&lon=-80.6865&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - 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): 201725 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201725/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201725 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA364 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in 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-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [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-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The owner/pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was attempting a normal three-point landing in a 15-knot right crosswind that was gusting to 18 knots. During the landing the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3429Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3429Z), registered now, S/N 22-7343, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-7343 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 3881 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2025, 66 hours before - Departed: KSSI, St.Simmons Island, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: COI, Merritt Island, runway 29, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 24, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,967 total, 470 in this make and model, 2,765 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: COI - METAR: METAR KCOI 202255Z AUTO 35012KT 10SM SCT027 29/24 A2999 RMK AO2= ## 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 20250920015599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250920015599A), Sep 20, 2025: Piper PA-22-150, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. Merritt Island, FL (coi): N3429Z, PA22, (delayed notification) Upon landing ground looped and came to rest in a ditch. Aircraft was towed to the ramp. POB: 3,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201725. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19400138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20ERA25LA364_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 372 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19365332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Surface observations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19364315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-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.