# NTSB FTW98LA332: Piper PA-22-135, N1202C, Rock Springs, WY, July 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 1998, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.589466, -109.219726 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5895&lon=-109.2197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43260 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43260/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA332 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,main gear - collapsed ## Analysis The pilot said a gust of wind 'caught [him and he] was unable to maintain directional control.' The airplane ground looped, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The left wing struck the ground, damaging the tip, and the propeller also sustained ground strike damage. In the weather section of his accident report, the pilot indicated the wind was calm. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 1998, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22-135, N1202C, was substantially damaged during landing at Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport, Rock Springs, Wyoming. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Brigham City, Utah, at 1345 mountain daylight time. The accident was reported to FAA's Flight Standards Field Office by a Sweetwater County Sheriff's deputy. While on routine patrol, he noticed the unfamiliar and damaged airplane parked on the ramp. An airport mechanic, Phil Weber of M&N Aviation, examined the airplane and reported substantial damage had been incurred. An FAA inspector was dispatched from the Casper, Wyoming, Flight Standards Field Office. By the time he arrived at the airport, the airplane had been dismantled and trucked back to the pilot's home base in California. An accident report was sent to the pilot on July 29. The pilot said he failed to report the accident because the way he interpreted Title 49 CFR Part 830.2, the airplane had sustained only minor damage. The pilot was asked to submit photos of the damaged airplane. On September 14, the pilot submitted several Polaroid photos depicting a bent propeller, a scraped wing tip, and the left landing gear strut and wheel pant after they had been removed from the airplane. The pilot was requested to submit photos of the entire airplane. He failed to comply. On several occasions, the pilot was asked to submit a completed accident report. The report was finally received on October 2. In his report, the pilot said a gust of wind "caught [him and he] was unable to maintain directional control." The airplane ground looped, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The left wing struck the ground, damaging the tip, and the propeller also sustained ground strike damage. In the weather section of the accident report, the pilot indicated the wind was calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1202C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1202C-2008-10-20), registration cancelled 2008-10-20, S/N 22-1010, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-135 - 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: 1010 - Airframe hours: 5395 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Craig R. Peacemaker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 1998, 46 hours before - Departed: BMC, BRIGHAM CITY, UT - Destination: RKS, ROCK SPRINGS, WY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RKS, Rock Springs, runway 9, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 257 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RKS ## 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 19980725025049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980725025049A), Jul 25, 1998: Piper PA22135, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot said a gust of wind 'caught him and he was unable to maintain directional control.' The airplane ground looped, causing the left main landing… 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.