No fatalities

Student Pilot Ground Loops During Landing After Wind Gust

Yakima, WA, United States

On May 25, 2011, a PIPER PA-22-160 operated by Hagedorn J., Matthew was involved in an aviation accident near Yakima, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control upon landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on a cross-country flight reported a wind gust lifted the left wing during touchdown, causing a ground loop. The airport reported winds from 240 degrees at 7 knots. No mechanical issues were noted.

Accident Details

A student pilot was returning to land after completing a cross-country flight. During the landing, the airplane touched down and subsequently ground looped. The pilot reported that a gust of wind lifted the left wing, and despite his control inputs, the aircraft veered uncontrollably.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal flight. He indicated that the aircraft was performing as expected before the landing.

Weather Conditions

At the time of the accident, the accident airport reported winds from 240 degrees at 7 knots. No further weather information was provided in the source.

The pilot did not specify the aircraft type, registration, or the date of the accident. The report contains no details regarding injuries, damage, or other circumstances beyond the events described.

Contributing factors

Causes

Student pilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome