Piper PA-22-160 accident near Yakima, Washington, May 25, 2011
On May 25, 2011 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N8712D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Yakima, Washington (Yakima/Mccallister 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control upon landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2011 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Yakima, Washington · Yakima/Mccallister Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8712D · registry record · serial 22-5893
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was returning to land when, upon touchdown, a gust of wind lifted his left wing. Despite his control inputs the airplane ground-looped. At the time of the accident, the wind at the accident airport was reported to be from 240 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight.
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 defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, student
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 156 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,062 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 2010; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRDM Redmond OR at 4:25 pm
- Destination: KYKM Yakima WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 7,604 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KYKM
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.
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.