Summary
On May 29, 1994, a Piper PA-22\20 (N1665A) was involved in an incident near Kill Devil Hill, NC. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION DURING A LANDING ROLLOUT.
On May 29, 1994, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22\20, N1665A, ground looped on runway 02 at the First Flight Airport, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight departed Chesapeake, Virginia, at 1345 hours.
Upon arriving at Kill Devil Hills, the pilot noticed that the prevailing winds crossed the runway at a 90 degree angle; He established a traffic pattern for runway 02. According to the pilot, during the initial rollout the tailwheel was held off the runway.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ATL94LA109. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1665A.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION DURING A LANDING ROLLOUT.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 29, 1994, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22\20, N1665A, ground looped on runway 02 at the First Flight Airport, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight departed Chesapeake, Virginia, at 1345 hours.
Upon arriving at Kill Devil Hills, the pilot noticed that the prevailing winds crossed the runway at a 90 degree angle; He established a traffic pattern for runway 02. According to the pilot, during the initial rollout the tailwheel was held off the runway. When he lowered the tailwheel, he lost control of the airplane as the nose of the airplane turned into the crosswind (see attached pilot/operator aircraft accident report). The prevailing winds were out of the southeast at fifteen knots. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL94LA109