# NTSB WPR22LA170: Piper PA22/135, N3390A, Mesa, AZ, May 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 2, 2022, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ · KIAW - Coordinates: 33.307824, -111.65545 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3078&lon=-111.6555&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA170 ## 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. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-22-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during an instructional flight practicing landings to a full stop, the airplane veered left, directional control was lost and the left wing and left elevator were substantially damaged when they contacted the runway surface during a ground loop. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3390A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3390A), registered now, S/N 22-1661, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA22/135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d2) (registry code 42090, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-1661 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 2543 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2021 - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: IAW, Mesa, AZ - Airport: IWA, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, runway 12L, 9,300 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 57.7 total, 4 in this make and model, 12.7 as pilot in command, 4.1 in the last 90 days, 1.4 in the last 30 days, 1.4 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KIWA, 1 nm away - METAR: KIWA 021445Z 13008KT 10SM CLR 22/M01 A2990 RMK ACFT MSHP ## 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 20220502006189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220502006189A), May 2, 2022: Piper PA-22-135, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. On may 2, 2022, a 1954 Piper PA-22-135, N3390A, [privacy data omitted] lost control shortly after landing. The aircraft was being used training. Visual… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105025. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13814537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR22LA170_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13816720&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20photo%20WPR22LA170%20Mesa,%20AZ%20N3390A-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.