Piper PA-22-150 accident near Thomasville, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1991
On July 28, 1991 at about 8:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N2315P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thomasville, Pennsylvania (York 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 IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOOSE NOSE WHEEL SHIMMY DAMPENER AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1991 · about 8:17 pm local time
- Place
- Thomasville, Pennsylvania · York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2315P · registry record · serial 22-2726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING WAS NORMAL, BUT THAT A 'VOILENT NOSE WHEEL SHIMMY' OCCURRED AS THE AIRPLANE SLOWED. HE SAID, '[THE AIRPLANE] VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, [AND] UPENDED.' THE FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THE NOSEWHEEL SHIMMY DAMPENER LOOSE. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 37 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
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: 855 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 837 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,190 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.