Probable cause
The student pilot's loss of control while landing, which resulted in a ground loop.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated that he thought that a gust of wind caught the tailwheel-equipped airplane just before touchdown, resulting in the right main landing gear wheel hitting the runway hard, which drove the wheel hub up into the strut. The airplane ground looped and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing. After the accident, the pilot stated that, if he had recognized the wind gust sooner, he could have initiated a go-around. He also reported that, if he had known that the wheel hub broke during touchdown, he would have increased the throttle to keep the front of the airplane elevated.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA677 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 4, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Monte Vista Municipal (MVI)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-22-108
- N-number
- N5934Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.