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Atlas / NTSB / ANC10CA033

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC10CA033

2010-04-28 Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Airport · FAI None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N7227D

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-22-150

Year of manufacture

1957 · 53 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19570322

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A9AE4B

Registrant of record

ROBINSON ERIC C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Factual narrative

The solo private pilot was taking off on a personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said during the takeoff roll it felt like a gust was pushing him toward the left side of the runway. He said he corrected with right rudder, but was unable to correct for the right turn. He said the airplane ground-looped to the right, striking the left wing on the ground. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the left wing was structurally damaged during the ground-loop. The solo private pilot was taking off on a personal local flight. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll it felt like a gust was pushing him toward the left side of the runway. He corrected with right rudder, but was unable to correct for the right turn. The airplane then ground-looped to the right, striking the left wing on the ground. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The left wing was structurally damaged during the ground-loop. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_ANC10CA033.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.