# NTSB CEN09LA190: Piper PA-18A, N3352B, Wood Lake, NE, March 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2009, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Wood Lake, NE - Coordinates: 42.870235, -100.549911 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8702&lon=-100.5499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73440/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73440 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA190 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 PA-18A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger departed on the flight to conduct an aerial view of the surrounding area. According to the passenger, shortly after taking off of the grass field runway, and approximately 50 feet in the air, the airplane turned sharply to the right and dove to the ground. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-down attitude. There were no reported ground witnesses to the accident and the pilot has no memory of the crash. The passenger, who had only flown in a small airplane once before, reported that the lift-off appeared "smooth" and that he didn't hear any changes in the engine sound or an "[engine] cough." An examination of the airplane failed to identify any preimpact abnormalities with the engine or airframe. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2009, about 1500 central standard time, a single-engine Piper, PA-18A, airplane, N3352B, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain following a loss of control shortly after takeoff from a private airfield near Wood Lake, Nebraska. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The pilot and passenger planned to conduct an aerial view of the surrounding area. The pilot preceded to do a "routine walk-around" preflight inspection before departing on a grass field runway. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he stated he has no memory of the actual crash. Additionally, there were no reported witnesses to the accident. The passenger, who had only flown in a small airplane once before, reported that the lift-off appeared "smooth" and he didn't hear any changes in the engine sound or an "[engine] cough." The passenger continued, "after the airplane climbed to about 50 feet in the air, the airplane dived sharply to the right and dove straight to the ground. He added, that the pilot stated, "I think we're going down." Photographs of the scene and information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site, indicated the airplane impacted the terrain in a nose down attitude. An on-site examination of the airplane was conducted. The engine was rotated by the propeller and continuity to the rear of the engine and cylinders was established; the spark plugs appeared "normal.” Continuity of the airplane's flight controls was also confirmed. At 1450, the automated weather station (ANW) located approximately 15 miles east-southeast from the accident site, reported winds from 170 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, a clear sky, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter setting of 29.65 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3352B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3352B), registered now, S/N 18-3305, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3305 - Airframe hours: 4416 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2008 - Departed: Wood Lake, NE - Destination: Wood Lake, NE - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 500 total, 450 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: KANW, 15 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 20090304004339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090304004339A), Mar 4, 2009: Piper PA18A, Wood Lake, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft crashed on take off from a private grass airstrip. The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed for safe take off and climb of the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73440. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 944 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Crash scene (item 4, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Crash%20scene-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Crash scene (item 5, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Crash%20scene-Master.PDF 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.