# NTSB SEA98LA002: Piper PA-22-150, N7507D, Challis, ID, October 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 1997, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Challis, ID - Coordinates: 44.650653, -114.15081 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6507&lon=-114.1508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42724 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42724/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Factors were inattention and fatigue. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had landed to the south in light and variable winds in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane swerved to the right; he overcorrected, and the airplane ground-looped to the right, collapsing the right main landing gear and striking the right wing, bending the rear spar. In a written statement, the pilot noted that he 'realize[d] that I had landed a little hot and had not completely stalled. I had relaxed back pressure on the elevator and had not planted my tailwheel. I feel that fatigue and a lack of attention to the job at hand caused this accident.' He additionally noted that 'I had been working the graveyard shift for the past seven nights and I was very tired. I should have gotten a few hours of sleep before the flight.' ## Factual narrative On October 16, 1997, approximately 1600 mountain daylight time, N7507D, a Piper PA-22-150 converted to a tailwheel configuration, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during landing roll at Challis, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the flight which had originated at Elko, Nevada about 1310. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no report of the ELT actuating. The pilot stated that he had landed to the south in light and variable winds. The airplane swerved to the right; he overcorrected, and the airplane ground-looped to the right, collapsing the right main landing gear and striking the right wing, bending the rear spar. In a written statement, the pilot noted that he "realize[d] that I had landed a little hot and had not completely stalled. I had relaxed back pressure on the elevator and had not planted my tailwheel. I feel that fatigue and a lack of attention to the job at hand caused this accident." He additionally noted that "I had been working the graveyard shift for the past seven nights and I was very tired. I should have gotten a few hours of sleep before the flight." ## Aircraft - Registration: N7507D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5234 - Airframe hours: 3638 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jackie R. Shipp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1997 - Departed: ELKO, NV - Destination: U15 - Airport: U15, Challis, runway 16, 4,600 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 490 total, 439 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19971016031359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971016031359A), Oct 16, 1997: Challis, ID, Substantial damage. Acft ground looped on landing, Challis, ID 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.