# Accident 19990731043879A: Piper PA18150, Big Creek, ID, July 31, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 31, 1999, 10:00 local time - Place: Big Creek, ID - Airport: Big Creek Airport - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 45.0692° N, 115.9704° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0692&lon=-115.9704&mi=10 - Aircraft: N6741L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6741L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA132) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990731043879A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) DURING TAKEOFF FROM BIG CREEK AIRSTRIP, BIG CREEK, ID., (60), ON RUN WAY 18, THE PILOT STATED HIS AIRCRAFT PITCHED TO THE LEFT MORE THAN USUAL. HE APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT BRAKE, BRINGING THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE CENTER LINE; AS HE APPLIED MORE POWER WHILE RELEASING DRAG ON THE RIGHT BRAKE. AT THIS POINT HE COMPLETELY RELEASED THE RIGHT BRAKE, ONLY TO HAVE THE AIRCRAFT VEER SHARPLY TO THE LEFT ONCE AGAIN. TO AVOID HITTING A SMALL TREE HEAD ON, HE APPLIED HARD LEFT RUDDER, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP, STRIKING THE TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING JUST OUTBOARD OF THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING, (JUST OUTBOARD OF THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK), RECEIVED CRUSHING "U" SHAPED DAMAGE, APPROX. (12IN) ACORSS. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED FROM THE FIREWALL AFT TO THE TAIL; MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, IN THE AREA OF THE AFT DOOR POST AND BACK (36 IN) TO THE BATTERY LOCATION. THE FORCE OF THE TREE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING CAUSED THE UPPER AFT. CABIN AREA TO BUCKLE IN; AT THE AFT SEAT BACK LOCATION. (NOTE: THE PASSENGER NARROWLY AVOIDED POTENTIAL HEAD INJURIES WHEN SHE LEANED FORWARD DURING THE CRASH). THE RIGHT AXLE WAS SHEARED OFF JUST INBOARD OF THE WHEEL ATTACHMENT; AS A RESULT OF THE GROUND LOOP. (NOTE: TUNDRA TIRES INSTALLED, SIZE: 29X13X6). BOTH PROP TIPS WERE CURLED FORWARD. THE PILOT HAS STATED, HE THOUGHT HIS PASSENGER MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE AFT LEFT HEEL BRAKE PEDAL; CAUSING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED DURING TAKEOFF. HE ALSO MENTIONED HE HAD FAILED TO CAUTION THE PASSENGER, (DURING THE PREFLIGHT BRIEFING), ON KEEPING HER BOOTS CLEAR OF THE BRAKE PEDALS. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S RUDDER CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES, EXCEPT FOR THE RIGHT BRAKE LINE THAT WAS SEVERED WITH THE AXLE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE LEFT BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY WAS FREE OF ANY OBSTRUCTION AND THE WHEEL ROTATED FREELY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE TEMPORARILY LODGED IN THE LEFT BRAKE OR BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA99LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA132), Jul 31, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N6741L), Big Creek, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's improper remedial action (continued takeoff). Contributing factors were the tree and control interference (inadvertent brake activation) by the passenger.. ## Other reports on N6741L (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20190917014539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190917014539A), Sep 17, 2019: Piper PA-18-150 (N6741L), New Meadows, ID, Substantial damage. Tailwheel flight instruction was being conducted at the New Meadows Airport on a grass strip in New Meadows, Idaho. The intention was to conduct take off and… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.