# Accident 20051026025769A: Piper PA18150, Cortez, CO, October 26, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 26, 2005, 15:45 local time
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3031° N, 108.6281° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3031&lon=-108.6281&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4055Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4055Z) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,400 total, 750 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN06LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051026025769A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A GRASS RUNWAY IN A PASTURE FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 6,200 FEET MSL. PILOT HAD APPLIED FULL FLAPS IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING WHEN HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND BECAUSE OF LIVESTOCK NEAR THE LANDING AREA. FULL POWER WAS APPLIED BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB. THE LANDING WAS CONTINUED WITH THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHING DOWN IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER SCRAPING THE RIGHT WING TIP, AND GROUND LOOPING TO THE LEFT. DURING THE GROUND LOOP THE LEFT WING WAS DRAGGED ON THE GROUND BREAKING THE WING SPAR. LANDING WITH AN ESTIMATED 5 KNOT TAIL WIND CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT MAINLY AT SEA LEVEL ALTITUDES AND DID NOT ADEQUATELY PLAN FOR THE AIRCRAFT'S LACK OF CLIMB PERFORMANCE AT THE 1,200 FEET MSL LANDING SITE.

## 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 DEN06LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA011), Oct 26, 2005: Piper PA-18-150 (N4055Z), Cortez, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, resulting in a ground loop. Contributing factors were the excessive descent rate, the obstacle (horse), the high density altitude,…

## Other reports on N4055Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19970327003819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970327003819A), Mar 27, 1997: Piper PA18150 (N4055Z), Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Landed ski equipped PA18 on snow short of dry runway. Right gear collapsed damaged right wing.

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.

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