# NTSB CEN09CA079: Piper PA18-150, N18338, Colorado Springs, CO, November 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 2, 2008, 11:11 local (18:11 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.850276, -104.089447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8503&lon=-104.0894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 69523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA079 ## Probable cause Loss of directional control due to an encounter with a weather phenomena at rotation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was attempting to depart from an unimproved private airstrip. As the airplane rotated for lift-off at 35 to 40 miles per hour, it was "hit by a dust devil." The airplane rotated ninety degrees to the right and the application of full opposite control inputs failed to re-establish directional control. The airplane impacted terrain, causing the left landing gear to collapse, followed by the collapse of the right landing gear and resulting in multiple propeller ground strikes. The airplane sustained a bent right wing spar. The pilot reported the weather conditions at the time of the accident as a variable 7- to 10-knot wind, gusting to 12 to 15 knots. An hourly weather observation taken at the time of the accident 39 miles west of the accident site showed the wind to be 170 at four knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was attempting to depart from an unimproved private airstrip. As the airplane rotated for lift-off at 35 to 40 miles per hour, it was "hit by a dust devil." The airplane rotated ninety degrees to the right and the application of full opposite control inputs failed to re-establish directional control. The airplane impacted terrain causing the left landing gear to collapse, followed by the collapse of the right landing gear, which resulted in multiple propeller ground strikes. The airplane sustained a bent right wing spar. The pilot reported the weather conditions at the time of the accident as a variable seven to ten knot wind, gusting to 12 to 15 knots. An hourly weather observation taken at the time of the accident 39 miles west of the accident site showed the wind to be 170 at four knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18338](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18338), registered now, S/N 18-8285, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8285 - Airframe hours: 4500 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320 A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Conrad Lapp - Registered owner: Conrad Lapp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 2007 - Departed: KCOS, Colorado Spring, CO - Destination: Rush, CO - Airport: N/A, Private airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 1,046 total, 101 in this make and model, 892 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KCOS, 29 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 20081102851199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081102851199A), Nov 2, 2008: Piper PA18150, Rush, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Accident pilot, [privacy data omitted] stated: on takeoff roll airplane flew through dust devil and on tail rotation and turned 90 degrees to right ?… 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.