Piper PA22
Riverside, CA — June 9, 2019
Event Information
| Date | June 9, 2019 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA19CA333 |
| Event ID | 20190612X22520 |
| Location | Riverside, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.98889, -117.41000 |
| Airport | Flabob |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA22 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to the maintain the runway heading during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with runway lighting and a subsequent ground loop during the landing roll.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing on a grass runway, he encountered a "strong crosswind that blew [him] to the left side of the grass." Upon landing, he observed "small grass mounds" rising higher than the mowed grass. As he continued the landing roll, he noticed the grass mounds were runway lights. The airplane hit a runway light and ground looped to the right.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
An automated weather observation station located 3 miles south of the accident reported that, about 38 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 270° at 15 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 24.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.