Piper PA-22-160 N3551Z

Summary

On 15 April 2021 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-22-160 registered N3551Z was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 April 2021 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cottonwood, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Cottonwood (P52)

Coordinates

34.7307, -112.0350

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-160

Registration

N3551Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Calnevar → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA160

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, while adjusting the flap handle, he briefly stepped on the right rudder and the airplane veered to the right. While attempting to correct with left rudder input, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, ground looped to the right and collapsed the left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.