N88390

On October 15, 2004, approximately 1415 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22 single-engine, tail-wheel equipped airplane, N88390, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing rollout at the Saint John the Baptist Parish Airport (1L0), near Reserve, Louisiana. The private pilot, the registered owner of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the South Lafourche Airport (L49), near Galliano, Louisiana, at approximately 1330.

According to the 964-hour pilot, after landing on runway 17 (a 4,000-foot by 75-foot runway), he started to turn left off the runway, but changed his mind. He swerved back towards the centerline to continue down the runway when the right wing and right landing gear started lifting up. He attempted to lower the wing and gear with aileron, but before he could get the airplane under control, the left gear collapsed. The left wing hit the runway, and the airplane initially continued down the runway, but then made a slow turn to the right, stopping with the propeller just over the right edge of the runway. The pilot also reported that he was traveling on the ground at a speed of approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour when the wing lifted, and that a 15 to 20 knot crosswind prevailed from the right side of the runway.

The pilot further reported that during an inspection following the mishap, he observed that the left wing struts and spars were bent, and that several wing ribs would need to be replaced. He also reported that his A & P mechanic examined the airplane and reported that it did not appear that any welds or parts had failed, but that the gear had been "torn apart."

At 1353, the automated weather observing system at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MKY), near New Orleans, Louisiana, located 18 nautical miles east from the site of the accident, reported wind from 240 degrees at 16 to 20 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 2,000 feet, temperature 24 degrees, dew point 12 degrees, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.84 inches of Mercury.