Piper PA 22 accident near Scappoose, Oregon, April 4, 2017
On April 4, 2017 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1957 Piper PA 22, registered N7822D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Scappoose, Oregon (Scappoose Industrial Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll and his subsequent inadvertent brake application, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2017 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · Scappoose Industrial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22, built 1957 · all PA 22s on the register
- Registration
- N7822D · registry record · serial 22-5468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he accomplished several takeoffs and landings on the asphalt runway during his solo flight in the pattern. He reported that, during his sixth landing, the airplane swerved to the left and subsequently swerved to the right during the landing roll. He attempted to control the airplane's direction with rudder pedal application, but he inadvertently applied the toe brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both left side wing struts, the rudder, and the windscreen. The student reported that there were 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 5,620 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPB Scappoose OR at 1:30 am
- Destination: SPB Scappoose OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KSPB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 25, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7822D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.