Event SEA97LA018

Factual narrative

On October 21, 1996, approximately 1521 mountain daylight time, N3461A, a Piper PA-22, sustained substantial damage when the main landing gear collapsed after the pilot lost directional control while landing. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which had originated from Ogden, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no report of the ELT actuating. On touchdown on runway 3, approximately 1600 feet from the approach end, the right wing was observed to be high. The aircraft leveled out and skidded off the left side of the runway. Winds at the time were about 310 degrees at 10 knots. According to the pilot's written statement, on landing rollout the aircraft started to veer to the left; right rudder and brake were applied, the right landing gear failed, and the aircraft slid to a stop on the left side of the runway. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Piper did not maintain directional control of the airplane, while landing in a crosswind. The airplane departed the runway on the left side, and the right main landing gear collapsed, causing substantial damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12