NTSB WPR21LA132 — 2021-03-12 · Eastsound, Washington, United States

Current FAA registration · N1224C

Make / Model: PIPER PA-22-135
Year of manufacture: 1953 · 68 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560322
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A05E07

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N1224C Piper PA-22-135 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a tailwind, which resulted in a landing gear collapse and collision with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing on runway 16, he did not check the windsock and subsequently landed with a tailwind. During the landing roll, the airplane veered, and he was not able to regain control. The right landing gear collapsed, and the right wing was substantially damaged when it contacted the runway surface. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 170° at 5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Attain/maintain not possible
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_WPR21LA132.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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