Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Tucson, Arizona, March 2, 2008
On March 2, 2008 at about 1:15 am local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, registered N22TE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tucson, Arizona (La Cholla 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2008 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · La Cholla Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N22TE · registry record · serial 0728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon arrival at the destination airport, the pilot noted that the windsock appeared to favor runway 19. The pilot reported that the approach was made with the airplane configured in a slip to compensate for a crosswind. As the airplane touched down, there was a slight bounce. During the landing rollout, the airplane began to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the heading; however, the airplane continued off the runway and hit a culvert with a rock facing. The left main landing gear was sheared off and the airplane came to rest inverted causing structural damage to the wings, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder. According to the pilot's written statement, she received weather information via the National Weather Service and an automated report. The winds were reported to be from 280 degrees at 4 knots.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,948 hours in all; 1,336 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,725 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVQ Marana AZ at 1:05 am
- Destination: 57AZ Oro Valley AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,500 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N22TE 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.