# NTSB WPR25LA120: Piper PA-22, N1418C, Madras, OR, March 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 26, 2025, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Madras, OR
- Coordinates: 44.666675, -121.15346 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6667&lon=-121.1535&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: 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): 199924
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199924/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199924
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA120

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control during landing roll with gusty winds.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102202), [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, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that prior to landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he obtained the current weather of the destination airport, which included the current wind. During the final approach to land the wind was a lot stronger and gustier than expected. He advanced the throttle to make a crosswind correction to the left. About 10 ft above the runway the pilot set up for a three-point landing. Shortly after landing, the left wing began to rise, and the nose stared to turn to the right. Subsequently, the airplane quickly turned to the right and the right wing tip and right elevator impacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 16, with the wind from 150° at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1418C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1418C), registered now, S/N 22-1175 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (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: 22-1175
- Year built: 1953
- Airframe hours: 4112.5
- Engines: Lycoming O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Christian Morris
- Registered owner: Waaam Volunteer Flying Association LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 2024, 8 hours before
- Departed: KDLS, Dallesport, WA
- Destination: S33, Madras, OR
- Airport: S33, Madras Municipal, runway 16, 5,091 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 181.6 total, 38.8 in this make and model, 55.8 as pilot in command, 3.1 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: S33
- METAR: METAR KS33 261715Z AUTO 17014G18KT 10SM CLR 20/03 A2985 RMK AO2=

## 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 20250326003209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250326003209A), Mar 26, 2025: Piper PA-22, Madras, OR, Substantial damage. Airman stated he was landing on runway 16 at Madras, winds were reported as 015 at 6 KTS during roll out the airman encountered a wind gust, and the airplane…

## Other investigations on N1418C (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 LAX78FUG18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUG18), Feb 25, 1978: Piper PA-22 (N1418C), San Bernardino, CA, substantial damage

## 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=199924. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18583257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-courtesy of the pilot (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 908 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18582916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Weather data (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18583197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=OGIMET%20Wx%20Data-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.