# NTSB LAX01LA077: Piper PA-22-150, N3854P, Atwater, CA, January 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2001, 16:30 local (Jan 14, 2001, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Atwater, CA - Coordinates: 37.380554, -120.568054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3806&lon=-120.5681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51354/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA077 ## Probable cause The student's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind, his improper compensation for wind conditions, and the flight instructor's inadequate flight supervision. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the pilot handling the flight controls ground looped his airplane while landing on runway 31. Prior to the accident, the pilot had successfully performed a series of takeoffs and 3-point landings under the supervision of his flight instructor. However, a wind gust was encountered during the pilot's last landing. The pilot indicated that he was unable to maintain directional control, the airplane veered left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing contacted the runway surface and broke. The flight instructor indicated that, at the time, the wind was from the southwest at 10 knots, with 15-knot gusts. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate and had about 5,000 hours of flight time, but only about 2 hours in his recently purchased tail wheel equipped airplane. The flight instructor, whom the pilot hired to check him out, had 3,469.7 hours of flight time. However, his flying experience in the accident airplane was 5 hours. Runway 31 is 11,802 feet long and 300 feet wide. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2001, about 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N3854P, owned and operated by the student, ground looped during landing at the Castle Airport, Atwater, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, and neither the certified flight instructor (CFI) nor the student pilot was injured. The local flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Atwater about 1540. According to the student, he possessed a commercial pilot certificate but had no experience flying the PA-22-150 airplane that he had recently purchased. The airplane had been modified by installation of conventional landing gear. The student additionally reported that he had about 5,000 hours of flight time. However, his experience in the tail wheel equipped PA-22-150 was 2 hours. The CFI reported that he had 3,469.7 total hours of flight time. His experience in the airplane was 5 hours. The student also stated that he had hired the CFI to check him out in the airplane. After flying in the traffic pattern and successfully performing a series of takeoffs and 3-point landings, he attempted to perform a wheel landing. The student stated that a wind gust was encountered as the airplane decelerated on runway 31. (Runway 31 is 11,802 feet long and 300 feet wide.) The student indicated that he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane veered left. Following the collapse of the right main landing gear, the right wing contacted the runway surface and broke. The CFI reported that his student was on the controls at the time of the gust encounter, loss of control, and ground loop. In the CFI's completed accident report, he indicated that at the time of the accident the local wind was from the southwest at 10 knots, with 15-knot gusts. At 1553, the Merced, California, airport, located about 7 miles from Atwater, reported its surface wind was from 280 degrees at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3854P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3854P), registered now, S/N 22-3546 (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: 22-3546 - Airframe hours: 2054 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Correll A. Couch - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2000, 5 hours before - Departed: MER, Atwater - Destination: MER, Atwater, CA - Airport: MER, castle, runway 31, 11,802 × 300 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 31, 1999; seat: right; flight hours: 3,470 total, 5 in this make and model, 3,278 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 30, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: MCE, 7 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 20010113000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010113000239A), Jan 13, 2001: Piper PA22150, Atwater, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The owner and pilot, Dr. Correll a. couch, indicated that he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 31 at Castle. Upon completing the last… ## Other investigations on N3854P (1) 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 CEN11CA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA306), Apr 23, 2011: Piper PA-22-150 (N3854P), Crosby, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the crosswind 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.