# NTSB WPR21LA160: Piper PA-22-160, N3551Z, Cottonwood, AZ, April 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 15, 2021, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, AZ · On Airport - Coordinates: 34.730729, -112.03502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7307&lon=-112.0350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102924/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102924 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, while adjusting the flap handle, he briefly stepped on the right rudder and the airplane veered to the right. While attempting to correct with left rudder input, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, ground looped to the right and collapsed the left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3551Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3551Z), registered now, S/N 22-7462, built 1960 (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: 22-7462 - Airframe hours: 3400 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2020 - Departed: 1L4, Calnevar, NV - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 14/32, 4,252 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KPRC, 20 nm away - METAR: KPRC 150753Z AUTO 17011KT 10SM CLR 11/M09 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP068 T01111089 ## 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 20210415005339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210415005339A), Apr 15, 2021: Piper PA-22-160, Cottonwood, AZ, Substantial damage. Gear collapsed during landing rwy 32 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102924. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12233534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA160%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12215540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-Rel.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.