NTSB LAX92LA056 — 1991-12-01 · PALO ALTO, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N3170Z

Make / Model: PIPER PA-22-150
Year of manufacture: 1959 · 32 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19591118
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A36342

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N3170Z Piper PA22-150 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY THE INSTALLATION OF A TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 12 AND DURING ROLLOUT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. AT THE TIME THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING 600 HOURS OF TAIL DRAGGER FLIGHT TIME. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX92LA056.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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