# NTSB SEA03LA188: Piper PA-22-160, N9332D, Billings, MT, September 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 2003, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Billings, MT - Coordinates: 45.808887, -108.544441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8089&lon=-108.5444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA188 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which led to a loss of control and subsequent ground loop. A contributing factor was the wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve ## Analysis While landing, a gust of wind pushed the tail up causing the pilot to lose control of the airplane. During the ground loop to the left the right wing, empennage and center section of the of the airplane sustained substantial damage. There was also damage to the right landing gear and the tail wheel. The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 230 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2003, approximately 1745 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160 single-engine airplane, N9332D, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at the Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Billings, Montana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Great Falls, Montana, at 1600. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that while landing "a gust of wind pushed the tail of the airplane beyond my control and I ground looped. The gust of wind could have been a dust devil." The airplane veered to the left 180 degrees resulting in the right wing impacting the runway and the right main landing gear collapsing up and under the center section of the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position oriented with the nose aligned in an southeasterly direction. According to a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, the right landing gear was collapsed and the tail wheel was bent. The empennage, lower center section of the airframe, and right wing sustained substantial damage. At 1756, the weather reporting facility at BIL reported the wind to be from 230 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9332D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9332D), registered now, S/N 22-6352, built 1958 (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: 22-6352 - Airframe hours: 2221 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven T. Owen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002, 83 hours before - Departed: GTF, Great Falls, MT - Destination: BIL, Billings, MT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BIL, Billings Logan International, runway 28R, 10,518 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 19, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,196 total, 114 in this make and model, 1,172 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,348 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BIL ## 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 20030910023519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030910023519A), Sep 10, 2003: Piper PA22160, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot states he encountered dust devils upon roll out which ground looped the aircraft. ## Other investigations on N9332D (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 CHI05CA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA101), Apr 19, 2005: Piper PA-22-160 (N9332D), Gordon, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain direction control during landing. The pilot lack of familiarity with the airplane was a factor. 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.