Casualties unknown

Tailwheel-Converted Aircraft Veers Left During Landing, Right Gear Collapses (N8158D)

Friday Harbor, WA, US

On July 14, 2001, a Piper PA-22-160 (registration N8158D) was involved in an aviation accident near Friday Harbor, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. 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

A pilot reported that after a level touchdown at 65 MPH, the left wing rose, and despite control inputs, the aircraft veered left, causing the right landing gear to collapse and the wingtip to strike the ground.

Accident Description

The accident involved an aircraft that had been modified with a tailwheel landing gear configuration. According to the pilot's report, the landing touchdown was level with no bounce at an approximate speed of 65 MPH. Approximately 100 feet down the runway, the pilot observed that the left wing began to rise. He stated that he applied full left aileron, right rudder, and right brake in an attempt to correct the situation. Despite these inputs, the airplane veered to the left. Subsequently, the right landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip contacted the ground.

Pilot Information

The pilot reported a total flight time of 146 hours, which included 61 hours in the same make and model of aircraft. Of those, 85.7 total hours (with 45.4 hours in the make and model) were logged as pilot-in-command time.

Mechanical Assessment

The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010718X01451. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.