Probable cause
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the quartering tailwind during landing and the flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor said that he was giving the student pilot a final instructional flight before his Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate check ride. The student was flying the airplane and they were cleared for the option to runway 30L; the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots. The flight instructor alerted the student to the left quartering tailwind for the landing. The touchdown was normal, but as the airplane slowed it began to drift left. Both pilots applied right rudder and then left rudder; however, directional control was lost and the airplane ground-looped. The left wing impacted the runway, bending and wrinkling the wing. Additionally, the aft fuselage was bent and wrinkled near the tailwheel.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10CA170 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 18, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Arpt (IWA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-22-160
- N-number
- N8830D
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.