Casualties unknown

Student Pilot's Touch-and-Go Ends in Nose-Over and Fire (N4556Z)

Hayward, CA, US

On January 2, 1999, a Piper PA-22-108 (registration N4556Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Hayward, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control. A factor in this accident was the inadvertent ground loop swerve. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a touch-and-go landing, a student pilot experienced a right drift and left wing near ground contact. He aborted a go-around, nosed over, and a post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft.

Incident Details

A student pilot was completing the last of a series of touch-and-go landings at a local airport. According to the pilot's account, during the flare the airplane began to drift to the right, and he observed the left wing approaching the ground, reminiscent of a ground loop condition.

Sequence of Events

In response, the pilot applied full throttle in an attempt to climb away. He stated that the airplane did not want to fly, so he elected to close the throttle and attempted to straighten the aircraft for landing. The aircraft then contacted the ground and subsequently nosed over.

Aftermath

During the crash, the gascolator was compromised, allowing unregulated fuel to enter the engine cowling. A post-crash fire ensued, which destroyed the airplane. The pilot reported that the weather conditions at the time, as per the ATIS, were winds from 070 degrees at 4 knots.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001204X00073. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.