Piper PA-22-150 accident near Norwich, New York, May 19, 2012
On May 19, 2012 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3956P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Norwich, New York (Lt Warren Eaton Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during a landing with a deflated left main landing gear tire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2012 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Norwich, New York · Lt Warren Eaton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3956P · registry record · serial 22-3634
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 400 feet into the third landing roll, the airplane began pulling to the left. The pilot corrected to the right using the rudder, and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s left tire was deflated. Fragments of the tire and skid marks were observed on the runway. The pilot reported that the windsock at the accident airport indicated light wind from the south around the time of the accident. The cause of the deflated tire could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 725 hours in all; 391 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 665 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,352 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 1,202 as pilot in command; 961 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OIC Norwich NY at 5:45 pm
- Destination: OIC Norwich NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 4,724 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BGM, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.