NTSB Factual Report

On May 18, 2001, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N3170Z, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during the landing roll on runway 32R at Buchanan Field, Concord, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area flight departed the Byron, California, airport at 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he indicated that on the landing roll the left wing was lifted and the airplane veered to the right. He pushed on the left rudder and the brakes and the airplane "swung" to the left. He was not able to return the airplane to runway heading. The pilot stated that the airplane continued to the left and swung in a circle on its right wing tip. The airplane came to rest 180 degrees from the runway heading. The pilot further reported that a crosswind existed that was 90 degrees to the runway at 10 knots. No mechanical discrepancies were noted with the airplane by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, resulting in a loss of directional control and the inadvertent ground loop.