- Date
- April 15, 2002, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- Conway, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N802DAPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 20, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Columbia FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020415009309A
- Case key
- 54528
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to use proper wind correction technique, resulting in a loss of directional control of the aircraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with a ditch as the pilot taxied to the ramp after landing. The pilot stated a gust of wind caused the airplane to swerve, and there was not enough time to correct. The left main wheel of the aircraft slid into a ditch along the left side of the runway, causing the left wing tip to strike the ground. The airframe sustained structural damage. No mechanical or engine problems were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On April 14, 2002, at 1220 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N802DA, registered to and operated by Sky Signs LLC., collided with a ditch as the pilot taxied to the ramp after landing at Sky Field in Conway, South Carolina. The banner tow flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight initially departed Conway, South Carolina, at an undetermined time.
According to the pilot, he was taxiing the airplane from the runway to a hanger when a gust of wind caused the aircraft to swerve to the left. The pilot immediately corrected with right rudder, but due to a narrow runway, did not have enough time to recover. The left main wheel of the aircraft slid into a ditch along the left side of the runway, and the left wing tip to strike the ground.
The airframe sustained structural damage. No other damage to the aircraft occurred, and there were no injuries. According to the pilot, winds at the time of the accident were variable at 7 knots, without gusts. The runway is a grass strip, 1,200 feet long by 50 feet wide. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N802DA
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-3353
- Airframe hours
- 10,873
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sky Signs LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 1, 2001 · 75 hours before
- Departed
- Conway, SC
- Airport
- Sky Field, runway 17, 1,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 588 total · 67 in this make and model · 512 as pilot in command · 94 in the last 90 days · 78 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- MYR, 13 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N802DA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.