# NTSB SEA05CA003: Piper PA-22/20, N2849Z, Medford, OR, October 2, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 1, 2004, 17:05 local (Oct 2, 2004, 00:05 UTC) - Place: Medford, OR - Coordinates: 42.374168, -122.873611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3742&lon=-122.8736&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 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 60279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60279/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during landing, resulting in his failure to maintain directional control. Factors include the presence of crosswinds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings in crosswind conditions, and during his first landing there was a 40 degree crosswind at five knots. As he was cleared for his second landing, the tower advised him that the wind had changed direction and speed, and he was therefore landing in a 60 degree crosswind of seven knots. During his second landing, he relaxed his "cross control input" too much during the landing flare, and the aircraft's left wing began to lift. He therefore elected to execute a go-around, but as he added power the aircraft began rotating to the left. He therefore elected to try to put the aircraft back onto the runway, but as it touched down, the aircraft was not aligned with the runway, and it therefore quickly veered to the left. As the aircraft departed the side of the runway, the tip of its right wing came in contact with the terrain resulting in substantial damage to the wings internal structure. According to the pilot, there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, and the accident was simply a result of his failure to adequately control the aircraft in the crosswind conditions. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2004, at 1705 Pacific daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-22/20, N2849Z, impacted the terrain during an attempted landing at Rogue Valley International Airport, Medford, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned by another individual, sustained substantial damage. The 14CFR Part 91 personal proficiency flight, which originated at the same airport about 35 minutes earlier, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who was practicing touch-and-go landings in crosswind conditions, during his first landing there was a 40 degree crosswind at five knots. As he was cleared for his second landing, the tower advised him that the wind had changed direction and speed, and he was therefore landing in a 60 degree crosswind of seven knots. According to the pilot, during the landing flare, he relaxed his "cross control input" too much, and the aircraft's left wing began to lift. He therefore elected to execute a go-around, but as he added power the aircraft began rotating to the left. He therefore elected to try to put the aircraft back onto the runway, but as it touched down, the aircraft was not aligned with the runway, and it therefore quickly veered to the left. As the aircraft departed the side of the runway, the tip of its right wing came in contact with the terrain resulting in substantial damage to the wing's internal structure. In a telephone interview with the Investigator-In-charge (IIC), the pilot said that there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, and that the accident was simply a result of his failure to adequately control the aircraft in the crosswind conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2849Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2849Z), registered now, S/N 22-6845, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22/20 - 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: 22-6845 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald J. Gassman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MFR, Medford, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 409 total, 5 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20041001035439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041001035439A), Oct 1, 2004: Piper PA22160, Medford, OR, Minor damage. (-23) On 10-01-04, N2849Z a Piper, model PA-22-160 aircraft landing at Medford airport, Medford, Oregon (mfr); left wing lifted up from crosswind and right… 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.