# NTSB WPR24LA147: Piper PA-22-150, N3915P, Emmett, ID, May 12, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 12, 2024, 10:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Emmett, ID - Coordinates: 43.85265, -116.53906 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8526&lon=-116.5391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - 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): 194246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194246/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194246 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll due to a loose tailwheel leaf spring assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/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-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the wind was calm when the pilot receiving instruction performed a 3-point landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane. During the landing roll, the tailwheel began to shimmy. The pilot was able to raise the tail momentarily in an attempt to stop the shimmy before it settled back onto the runway. The tailwheel continued to shimmy, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder and brake input. The airplane began to correct to the right towards the runway centerline, however, the right turn continued to accelerate, despite the pilot and flight instructor’s left rudder inputs. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground. Post accident examination of the airplane determined that the tailwheel leaf spring assembly was loose. Corrosion was observed on the left main landing gear attach points. It is likely the loose tailwheel spring assembly was preexisting and caused the tailwheel shimmy and contributed to the loss of directional control and the subsequent landing gear failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3915P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3915P), registered now, S/N 22-3585, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3585 - Year built: 1956 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MAN, Nampa, ID - Destination: S78, Emmett, ID - Airport: S78, Emmett Municipal Airport, runway 10, 3,307 × 55 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; seat: right; flight hours: 8,398 total, 7 in this make and model, 8,331 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 1; seat: left; flight hours: 216 total, 11 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 11 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KMUO, 56 nm away - METAR: METAR KMUO 121556Z AUTO 29011KT 6SM HZ CLR 22/06 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP112 T02170064 $ ## 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 20240512005499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240512005499A), May 12, 2024: Piper PA-22-150, Emmett, ID, Substantial damage. Aircraft PA-22-150 [privacy data omitted]took off from nampa airport to Emmett S78. Aircraft toched down on centerline. Pilot reported a severe tail wheel… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194246. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17394316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17393385&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA147%20Accident%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18652937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA147%20Memo%20For%20Record%20Final%201-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.