Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / WPR23LA106

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR23LA106

2023-01-29 Sandpoint, Idaho, United States Airport · KSZT None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N1791P

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-22

Year of manufacture

1954 · 69 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19560221

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A13D25

Registrant of record

WHITLEY BRIAN M

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from a snow berm during a go around.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a landing attempt, after touchdown, he raised the flaps and the right wing lifted. He added right aileron input, but the airplane then turned about 60° to the left. The pilot was unable to correct the turn with rudder and initiated a go around, at which time the airplane collided with a snow berm, and the pilot continued. On the second landing, the airplane touched down normally, but the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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).

  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Snow/ice-Effect on equipment
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA106.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.