# NTSB CEN10LA472: Piper PA-18, N350CC, Aspen, CO, August 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2010, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Aspen, CO - Coordinates: 39.223056, -108.868888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2231&lon=-108.8689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA472 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76929/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76929 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA472 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101802), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taking off on runway 33. As the tail started coming off the ground, the plane veered off to the left and "accelerated into a typical ground loop." After the accident, four witnesses approached the pilot and told him that right after he added power, the wind sock swung around into a 90-degree crosswind and that a strong gust moved across the field. The pilot said that age was slowly "having its effect," and was slowing his reaction time. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2010, approximately 1115 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N350CC, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during takeoff roll at Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field (ASE), Aspen, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's accident report, he was taking off on runway 33. He wrote: "As the tail started coming off the ground, the plane veered off to the left and accelerated into a typical ground loop." The pilot said that after the accident, four witnesses approached him and told him that right after he added power, the wind sock swung around into a 90-degree crosswind and that a strong gust moved across the field. The pilot said he made several mistakes. He said should have waited longer for the storm that was in the area to move farther west; he should not have gone to the end of the runway but asked the tower for an intersection departure; and he should have paid more attention to the wind sock at the downwind end of the runway. The pilot added that "Age is slowly having its effect" and his "reaction time is not what it use to be." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350CC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N350CC), registered now, S/N 18-1172, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1172 - Airframe hours: 3146 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles W. Cullwell - Registered owner: Charles W. Cullwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2010, 24 hours before - Departed: ASE, Aspen, CO - Destination: GWS, Glenwood Sprngs, CO - Airport: ASE, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Fld, runway 33, 7,006 × 100 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 9,791 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 9,791 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: ASE ## 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 20100811040669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100811040669A), Aug 11, 2010: Piper PA-18, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. On August 11, 2010 at approximately 11:00 am, a single engine Piper PA-18, N350CC was substantially damaged when it departed runway 33 and entered into a… ## Other investigations on N350CC (1) 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 CEN09CA544](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA544), Aug 9, 2009: Piper PA-18 (N350CC), Aspen, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a preceding large business jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76929. 2.4 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Left front view of airplane. (item 3, .PDF, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Left%20front%20view%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Right front view of airplane. (item 4, .PDF, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335016&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Right%20front%20view%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Close-up view of damaged right main landing gear. (item 5, .PDF, 811 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Close-up%20view%20of%20damaged%20right%20main%20landing%20gear.-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.