# NTSB ATL02LA117: Piper PA-18A-150, N8680D, Thomaston, GA, June 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2002, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Thomaston, GA - Coordinates: 32.955001, -84.264167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9550&lon=-84.2642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA117 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control on landing, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis A Piper ground-looped during a landing at a private airport in Thomaston, Georgia. The airplane ground-looped, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot continued the flight and returned to Griffin. During the post-flight examination of the airplane, the pilot discovered that the left wing assembly had sustained structural damage. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2002, at 1700 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-150, N8680D, registered to a private owner and operated by the pilot ground-looped during a landing at a private airport in Thomaston, Georgia. The personal 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 airframe damage. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Griffin, Georgia, at 1630. According to the pilot, he and his passenger had flown from Griffin to Thomaston on a local pleasure flight. Upon landing, the pilot reported that the airplane ground-looped, and the left wing struck the ground. Unaware of the extent of airframe damage, the pilot continued the flight and returned to Griffin. During the post-flight examination of the airplane, the pilot discovered that the left wing assembly has sustained structural damage. Further examination disclosed a bent spar and ripped fabric on the left wing. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. The pilot also did not report a mechanical failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8680D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8680D-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 18-6284, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6284 - Airframe hours: 9278 - Engines: Lycoming O-360/L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Barbara's Banners - Registered owner: Starka Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: 8GA6, Griffin, GA - Destination: KOPN, Thomaston, GA - Airport: KOPN, Thomaston-Upson County, runway 30, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 20, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,510 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,365 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 42 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020603023509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020603023509A), Jun 3, 2002: Piper PA18A150, Thomaston, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) See pic's statement attached. In my telephone interview with the PIC, he stated he had only flown 2 hours in the last 90 days, which may have factored… ## Other investigations on N8680D (2) 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 ATL05CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA096), Jun 8, 2005: Piper PA-18A-150 (N8680D), Griffin, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation which failed to verify the fuel amount. - [NTSB MIA66D0158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66D0158), Jul 21, 1965: Piper PA-18A (N8680D), Clewiston, FL, substantial damage 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. --- 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.