# NTSB WPR22LA176: Piper PA-18, N1272A, Tucson, AZ, May 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 10, 2022, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 33.132138, -110.58289 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1321&lon=-110.5829&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: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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-18, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101802), [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-18, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, the airplane touched down on all three wheels. He tried to maintain runway centerline by applying rudder control, however the airplane started to veer to the left and he applied power to go around. The airplane subsequently collided with a runway marking sign substantially damaging the right-wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1272A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1272A), registered now, S/N 18-1068, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1066 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 4872 - Engines: Continental O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Shawback Lynn R - Registered owner: Shawback Lynn R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RYN, Ryan Fld, runway 6L, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 375 total, 4.5 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20220510006819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220510006819I), May 10, 2022: Piper PA-18, Tucson, AZ, Minor damage. The airman was practicing traffic patterns at Ryan airfield on runway 6L. During the landing rollout the airman lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105087. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14433088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14448813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA176photo508-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.