Piper PA22-150 accident near Palo Alto, California, December 1, 1991
On December 1, 1991 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Piper PA22-150, registered N3170Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 1991 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22-150 · all PA22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3170Z · registry record · serial 22-7122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY THE INSTALLATION OF A TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 12 AND DURING ROLLOUT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. AT THE TIME THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING 600 HOURS OF TAIL DRAGGER FLIGHT TIME.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,162 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,048 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1991; 24 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: BFL Bakersfield CA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from PAO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N3170Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX92LA056.