# NTSB WPR25LA121: Piper PA-22-160, N9528D, Tracy, CA, March 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 25, 2025, 10:12 local (17:12 UTC) - Place: Tracy, CA · On airport - Coordinates: 37.688895, -121.44157 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6889&lon=-121.4416&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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 199925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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-22-160, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he was conducting a few practice landings before continuing a cross-county flight. During the landing roll of the second landing, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot stated that they overcompensated to the left, right, and back to the left before the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 30 with wind from 120° at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9528D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9528D), registered now, S/N 22-6444, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6444 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3074 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2025 - Departed: PRB, Paso Robles, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TCY, Tracy Muni, runway 30, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 137 total, 21 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KMOD, 23 nm away - METAR: KMOD 251615Z 12003KT 4SM BR FEW001 14/13 A2998 RMK AO2 T01440133 ## 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 20250325003079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250325003079A), Mar 25, 2025: Piper PA-22-160, Tracy, CA, Substantial damage. On 3/25/2025 I was attempting to land [privacy data omitted] a Piper pacer PA20-22 tailwheel aircraft at ktcy at approximately 10:00 am PST. After initially… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199925. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18559962&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 987 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18559846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.