On September 1, 2000, a Piper PA-22/20 (registration N3383A) was involved in an aviation accident near Marion, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot failed to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was the dust devil. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A severe rotary thermal, likely a dust devil, struck the tail of an aircraft upon landing, propelling it sideways across the turf and causing structural damage to the wing and landing gear.
The pilot reported that upon landing, a severe rotary thermal, possibly a dust devil, impacted the plane on the right rear tail surfaces. This event propelled the aircraft sideways in the turf by skidding to the right. Structural damage resulted to the wing and landing gear. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.