NTSB WPR22LA176 — 2022-05-10 · Tucson, Arizona, United States

Current FAA registration · N1272A

Make / Model: PIPER PA-18
Year of manufacture: 1951 · 71 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19910227
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A07052

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N1272A Piper PA-18 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, the airplane touched down on all three wheels. He tried to maintain runway centerline by applying rudder control, however the airplane started to veer to the left and he applied power to go around. The airplane subsequently collided with a runway marking sign substantially damaging the right-wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Sign/marker-Effect on equipment

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_WPR22LA176.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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