# NTSB ERA26LA315: Piper PA-22-150, N6157D, Rural Retreat, VA, August 25, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 25, 2026, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Rural Retreat, VA
- Coordinates: 36.894574, -81.35072 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8946&lon=-81.3507&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 October 8, 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): 203664
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA315
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203664/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203664
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA315

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; 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)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: 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-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after landing during the landing roll, the aircraft drifted to the left side of the runway. Airport video shows the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to correct the drift with right rudder pedal input; however, the airplane ground looped to the right resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6157D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6157D), registered now, S/N 22-4804, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- 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: 22-4804
- Year built: 1957
- Airframe hours: 3325.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Badinelli Ralph D
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2025, 30 hours before
- Departed: MKJ, Rural Retreat, VA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: MKJ, Mountain Empire, runway 26, 5,252 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Video recording device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 858 total, 244 in this make and model, 774 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: MKJ
- METAR: METAR KMKJ 251515Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/09 A3023 RMK AO2 T01950088

## 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 20260825010049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260825010049A), Aug 25, 2026: Piper PA-22-150, Rural Retreat, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed at Mountain Empire Airport on 8/25/2026 @ 1100. During landing roll out, plane veered to the left. Pilot stated that excessive right rudder was…

## Other investigations on N6157D (2)

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.

- [NTSB GAA18CA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA144), Feb 18, 2018: Piper PA 22 (N6157D), Ashland, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in a ground loop.
- [NTSB SEA73FYC04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73FYC04), Sep 4, 1972: Piper PA-22 (N6157D), Mcminville, OR, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203664. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20898721&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20898955&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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