Piper PA22 N3429Z

Summary

On 20 September 2025 at about 22:55 local time, a Piper PA22 registered N3429Z was involved in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2025 at 22:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Merritt Island, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Merritt Island (COI)

Coordinates

28.3419, -80.6865

Aircraft

Piper PA22

Registration

N3429Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1960

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St.Simmons Island → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA364

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The owner/pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was attempting a normal three-point landing in a 15-knot right crosswind that was gusting to 18 knots. During the landing the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.