# NTSB LAX02LA265: Piper PA-22-160, N3607Z, Ruth, CA, August 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2002, 18:30 local (Aug 29, 2002, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Ruth, CA - Coordinates: 40.211387, -123.2975 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2114&lon=-123.2975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55600/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA265 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain control. ## 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 - gusts (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway and nosed over after encountering a 35-knot wind gust during landing rollout. According to the pilot, upon entering the airport's traffic pattern he noted the surface wind was nearly calm. Nothing unusual occurred during his approach to the runway. After touchdown the airplane encountered the wind gust, which lifted the tail. The pilot could not regain control and the airplane veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot did not indicate that he had experienced any mechanical problem with his airplane. The pilot had flown the model of accident airplane for about 500 hours, including 6 hours during the preceding 90-day period. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2002, about 1830 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160, N3607Z, nosed over during landing at the Ruth (uncontrolled) Airport, Ruth, California. The private pilot received a minor injury, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated by the private pilot/airplane owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Oakland, California, about 1710. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that upon entering the traffic pattern he noted the surface wind was nearly calm. Nothing unusual occurred during his approach to runway 13. During the landing rollout, he encountered a 35-knot wind gust that lifted the airplane's tail upward. Thereafter, the pilot lost control of the airplane, and it veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot did not indicate that he had experienced any mechanical problem with his airplane. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report" he indicated that he had flown the model of accident airplane for about 500 hours, including 6 hours during the preceding 90 days. His total flying experience was 1,239.8 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3607Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3607Z-2021-08-02), registration cancelled 2021-08-02, S/N 22-7495 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-7495 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Don A. Borden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 2001, 35 hours before - Departed: OAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: Q95, Ruth, CA - Airport: Q95, Ruth, runway 13, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,240 total, 500 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: UKI, 65 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 20020828024259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020828024259A), Aug 28, 2002: Piper PA22160, Ruth, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed oakland, California, enroute to Ruth, California. In the traffic to runway 13 at Ruth, the pilot determined that the wind was light… 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.