Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85212
Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor said that he was giving the student pilot a final instructional flight before his Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate check ride. The student was flying the airplane and they were cleared for the option to runway 30L; the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots. The flight instructor alerted the student to the left quartering tailwind for the landing. The touchdown was normal, but as the airplane slowed it began to drift left. Both pilots applied right rudder and then left rudder; however, directional control was lost and the airplane ground-looped. The left wing impacted the runway, bending and wrinkling the wing. Additionally, the aft fuselage was bent and wrinkled near the tailwheel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the quartering tailwind during landing and the flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Phoenix
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85212
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331828N
Event Location Longitude 1113920W
Event Location Airport Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Arpt
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IWA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1382
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1008 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID IWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1382
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 45
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26838
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 14 2010 2:14PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8830D
NTSB Number WPR10CA170
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-160
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-6000
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3891
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SALTZMAN JOHN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GILBERT
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85299-2467
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SALTZMAN JOHN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GILBERT
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85299-2467
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CHD
Departure City Chandler
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CHD
Destination City Chandler
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 14 2010 2:14PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30L
Runway Length 10401
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --