Piper PA-22-160 accident near Ruth, California, August 29, 2002
On August 29, 2002 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N3607Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruth, California (Ruth 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2002 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Ruth, California · Ruth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N3607Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-7495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered off the runway and nosed over after encountering a 35-knot wind gust during landing rollout. According to the pilot, upon entering the airport's traffic pattern he noted the surface wind was nearly calm. Nothing unusual occurred during his approach to the runway. After touchdown the airplane encountered the wind gust, which lifted the tail. The pilot could not regain control and the airplane veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot did not indicate that he had experienced any mechanical problem with his airplane. The pilot had flown the model of accident airplane for about 500 hours, including 6 hours during the preceding 90-day period.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,240 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 2001; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA
- Destination: Q95 Ruth CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.