Piper PA22 accident near Warner Robins, Georgia, November 1, 2020
On November 1, 2020 at about 8:24 pm local time, a 1954 Piper PA22, registered N3225B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Warner Robins, Georgia (Warner Robins Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper compensation for shifting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2020 · about 8:24 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Robins, Georgia · Warner Robins Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 135, built 1954 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N3225B · registry record · serial 22-2053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a full-stop landing attempt, the pilot realized that the wind had shifted from a crosswind to a tailwind. After touchdown, he realized insufficient runway remained to abort the landing, so he applied maximum wheel braking. He made a wide, right turn to help decelerate the airplane, during which the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Awareness of condition
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 413 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 396 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,561 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 2019; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 3,559 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,833 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 16 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 3:17 pm from WRB, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 18, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Written Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.