# NTSB CEN09CA069: Piper PA-18-150, N905CC, Colorado Springs, CO, November 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 18, 2008, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.968334, -104.807777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9683&lon=-104.8078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 69481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69481/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA069 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control and his failure to compensate for wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were gusting winds with a wind shear warning in effect. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101843), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101843), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101843), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101843), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101843), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after completing the final towing flight for the day, he returned land. He was cleared to land runway 34L and touched down "on the numbers and centerline with full flaps at 45 miles per hour(MPH)." The pilot reported that the airplane immediately weather vaned to the left, and headed for the left runway edge. He applied corrective countermeasures, "over corrected", and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane came to rest on the soft shoulder after completing 180 degrees of turn (ground loop). During the ground loop maneuver, the airplane sustained a bent outer left wing and aileron, and a bent left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane prior to the accident and was able to taxi the plane to it's hangar after recovery. Wind conditions reported at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 15 MPH gusting to 20 MPH with a wind shear warning in effect. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after completing the final towing flight for the day, he returned to AFF for landing. He was cleared to land runway 34L and touched down "on the numbers and centerline with full flaps at 45 miles per hour(MPH)." The pilot reported that the airplane immediately weather vaned to the left, and headed for the left runway edge. He applied corrective counter-measures, "over corrected", and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane came to rest on the soft shoulder after completing 180 degrees of turn (ground loop). During the ground loop maneuver, the airplane sustained a bent outer left wing and aileron, and a bent left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane prior to the accident and was able to taxi the plane to it's hangar after recovery. Wind conditions reported at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 15 MPH gusting to 20 MPH with a wind shear warning in effect. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N905CC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N905CC), registered now, S/N 9905CC, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-cub-crafters-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101843) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9905CC - Airframe hours: 5940 - Engines: Lycoming 0-360 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Operator: Doss Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Doss Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 2008 - Departed: AFF, Colorado Spring, CO - Destination: AFF, Colorado Spring, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: AFF, USAF Academy Airfiled, runway 34L, 4,500 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 9,371 total, 3,750 in this make and model, 8,500 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 9 °F - Observed at: AFF, 1 nm away 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.