# NTSB WPR10CA170: Piper PA-22-160, N8830D, Phoenix, AZ, March 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 18, 2010, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.307777, -111.655555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3078&lon=-111.6556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75551/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75551 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA170 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the quartering tailwind during landing and the flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor said that he was giving the student pilot a final instructional flight before his Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate check ride. The student was flying the airplane and they were cleared for the option to runway 30L; the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots. The flight instructor alerted the student to the left quartering tailwind for the landing. The touchdown was normal, but as the airplane slowed it began to drift left. Both pilots applied right rudder and then left rudder; however, directional control was lost and the airplane ground-looped. The left wing impacted the runway, bending and wrinkling the wing. Additionally, the aft fuselage was bent and wrinkled near the tailwheel. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor said that he was giving the student pilot a final instructional flight before his Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate check ride. The student was flying the airplane and they were cleared for the option to runway 30L; the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots. The flight instructor alerted the student to the left quartering tailwind for the landing. The touchdown was normal, but as the airplane slowed, it began to drift left. Both pilots applied right rudder and then left rudder; however, directional control was lost, and the airplane ground looped. The left wing impacted the runway, bending and wrinkling the wing. Additionally, the aft fuselage was bent and wrinkled near the tail wheel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8830D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8830D-2023-02-15), registration cancelled 2023-02-15, S/N 22-6000 (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: 22-6000 - Airframe hours: 3891 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Saltzman John - Registered owner: Saltzman John - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2010 - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: IWA, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Arpt, runway 30L, 10,401 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 25, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 3,258 total, 600 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 157 total, 157 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 45 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: IWA ## 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 20100318029769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100318029769A), Mar 18, 2010: Piper PA-22-160, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. On March 18, 2010 at approximately 1658Z (0958 MST), N8830D, a Piper model PA-22 aircraft received substantial damage when it ground looped at Phoenix-Mesa… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75551. 884 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.