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Tailwheel Aircraft Strikes Runway Light and Ground Loops on Grass Strip

Riverside, CA, United States

On June 9, 2019, a Piper PA22 150 was involved in an aviation accident near Riverside, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to the maintain the runway heading during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with runway lighting and a subsequent ground loop during the landing roll. 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 tailwheel-equipped airplane struck a runway light and ground looped during landing on a grass runway after encountering a strong crosswind. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical issues.

Incident Overview

A pilot flying a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported encountering a strong crosswind during landing on a grass runway. The wind pushed the aircraft to the left side of the strip. As the pilot continued the landing roll, he observed small grass mounds that were higher than the surrounding mowed grass. These mounds turned out to be runway lights. The airplane subsequently struck one of the runway lights and ground looped to the right.

Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation.

Weather Conditions

An automated weather observation station located 3 miles south of the accident site recorded wind conditions approximately 38 minutes after the event. The wind was from 270 degrees at 15 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 24.

Contributing factors

Heading/course — Not attained/maintainedDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotEffect on operation

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Jun 2019 Piper PA22 150 accident near Riverside, CA?

A tailwheel-equipped airplane struck a runway light and ground looped during landing on a grass runway after encountering a strong crosswind. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical issues.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Jun 2019 Piper PA22 150 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Jun 2019 involved a Piper PA22 150, at Riverside, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to the maintain the runway heading during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with runway lighting and a subsequent ground loop during the landing roll.

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