# NTSB LAX01LA185: Piper PA-22-150, N3170Z, Concord, CA, May 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2001, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Concord, CA - Coordinates: 37.993888, -122.061386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9939&lon=-122.0614&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 52308 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52308/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA185 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, resulting in a loss of directional control and the inadvertent ground loop. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during the landing roll. The pilot noted prior to landing that there was a 90-degree crosswind at 10 knots. During the landing roll the airplane veered to the right. When the pilot added full left rudder and brakes he overcorrected the airplane and it veered to the left. He was not able to return the airplane back to runway heading. The airplane continued in a left circle and ground looped. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2001, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N3170Z, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during the landing roll on runway 32R at Buchanan Field, Concord, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area flight departed the Byron, California, airport at 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he indicated that on the landing roll the left wing was lifted and the airplane veered to the right. He pushed on the left rudder and the brakes and the airplane "swung" to the left. He was not able to return the airplane to runway heading. The pilot stated that the airplane continued to the left and swung in a circle on its right wing tip. The airplane came to rest 180 degrees from the runway heading. The pilot further reported that a crosswind existed that was 90 degrees to the runway at 10 knots. No mechanical discrepancies were noted with the airplane by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3170Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3170Z), registered now, S/N 22-7122, built 1959 (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: 22-7122 - Airframe hours: 3012 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-2B2 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph S. Spotts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 2000, 30 hours before - Departed: C83, Byron, CA - Destination: CCR, Concord, CA - Airport: CCR, Buchanan Field, runway 32R, 4,601 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,207 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,048 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: CCR ## 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 20010518010459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010518010459A), May 18, 2001: Piper PA22150, Concord, CA, No damage. (-23)During landing attempt at Buchanan Field Airport on runway 32R at "c" intersection, pilot "ground looped" aircraft. Pilot received a crosswind and bounced… ## Other investigations on N3170Z (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 WPR26FA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA109), Feb 28, 2026: Piper PA-22-150 (N3170Z), Oroville, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing - [NTSB LAX92LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA056), Dec 1, 1991: Piper PA22-150 (N3170Z), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT. 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.