# Accident 20260304001629A: Piper PA-18-150, Sonora, TX, March 4, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 4, 2026, 14:00 local time
- Place: Sonora, TX
- Airport: Sonora Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5858° N, 100.6487° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5858&lon=-100.6487&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3695Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3695Z) (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 PA-18-150
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 8,833 total, 84 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA134) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260304001629A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED HE WAS DEPARTING KSOA AND EXCUTED A PRACTICE SHORT FIELD TAKE-OFF.

PILOT STATED HE FLEW SLOWER THAN TYPICAL RATE OF ROTATION.

PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO HOLD PITCH TO AVOID STALL/SPIN.  DURING CLIMBOUT THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED LEFT AND THEN DESCENDED AND THE WINGS LEVEL TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY.

PILOT STATED THE LANDING WAS HARD AND AIRCRAFT ROLLED RIGHT AFTER TOUCHDOWN.

## 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 CEN26LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA134), Mar 4, 2026: Piper PA-18-150 (N3695Z), Sonora, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and hard landing.

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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