Piper PA-22-20 accident near Shelton, Washington, May 13, 2004
On May 13, 2004 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-20, registered N1829P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelton, Washington (Sanderson Field). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during landing. Factors include a crosswind, fracture/collapse of the landing gear hydrasorb and an improper weld on the landing gear assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2004 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Shelton, Washington · Sanderson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-20 · all PA-22-20s on the register
- Registration
- N1829P · registry record · serial 22-2609
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was practicing wheel landings in preparation for a check ride. He stated the touchdown was normal, however, shortly after landing (runway 05) the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the situation using a combination of power and rudder inputs, but was unable to regain control of the airplane before it exited the runway (on to a paved surface adjacent to the runway). Shortly after exiting the runway, the airplane "snapped" to the right. Post-accident examination of the right main landing gear and hydrasorb assembly installed on the airplane, revealed that one of the ears on the lower fitting assembly (used to support the shock cord) fractured and separated from the main strut assembly. Further examination of the assembly revealed that the lower strut fitting had been welded to the strut assembly. The assembly consists of a lower strut fitting, an upper strut fitting and the hydrasorb unit. The lower strut fitting rests on the end of the hydrasorb and is held in place via the shock cord. The 1656 Shelton METAR observation reported weather conditions, in part, as: wind from 260 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles and clear skies.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 97 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SHN Shelton WA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: SHN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from KSHN
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.
Other NTSB records under N1829P 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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 SEA04LA086.