# NTSB WPR22LA321: Piper PA-22-135, N3268B, Twin Bridges, MT, August 29, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 29, 2022, 11:40, time zone not recorded - Place: Twin Bridges, MT - Coordinates: 45.535417, -112.30227 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5354&lon=-112.3023&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 105824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105824/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105824 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA321 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an aborted landing, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he entered a cross-control slip to the right on short final to descend. About 150 ft agl, the airplane was trimmed for landing with flaps applied, but the nose of the airplane remained oriented to the right of the runway centerline, and he aborted the landing. The student was instructed to lower the nose to increase the airspeed, but the airplane continued to turn right, and the flight instructor came on the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that he immediately reduced the angle of attack and executed standard stall recovery techniques. The airplane continued to descend and touched down on rising unimproved terrain with a left sideload. The left main and the nose landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing ribs, spar and aileron. Post-accident examination of the airplane’s primary flight controls revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3268B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3268B), registered now, S/N 22-2089, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2089 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 2738 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Randall A. Johnson - Registered owner: Randall A. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2022, 5 hours before - Departed: DLN, Dillon, MT - Destination: RVF, RVF, MT - Airport: RVF, Ruby Valley Fld ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2022; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,372 total, 40 in this make and model, 5,197 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 130 total, 127 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KDLN, 20 nm away - METAR: KDLN 291753Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP191 T01890028 10206 20039 50001 ## 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 20220829015359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220829015359A), Aug 29, 2022: Piper PA-22-135, Twin Bridges, MT, Substantial damage. On 8/29/2022, instructor pilot and student were landing at rvf. Aircraft aborted landing due to alitude and airspeed. Student pilot entered right hand downwind… ## Other investigations on N3268B (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK66F0077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK66F0077), Sep 16, 1965: Piper PA-22 (N3268B), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105824. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990674&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_SP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 CFI (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - CFI aircraft accident report narrative, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14989850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_CFI_6120_1%20Narrative-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14991318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_FAA-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, CFI and sp (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990472&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_ROC%20_CFI%20-%20SP-Rel.pdf - Bridger aviation examination (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bridger%20Aviation%20Examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14991328&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.