# NTSB CEN12LA522: Piper PA18, N7808Z, Peyton, CO, August 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2012, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Peyton, CO - Coordinates: 38.945835, -104.569999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9458&lon=-104.5700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84588 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA522 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84588/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84588 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA522 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during taxi in gusting wind conditions. ## 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 PA-18-150, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [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. - [Taxi: 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) - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing, the airplane’s left wing contacted the ground during the taxi in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in damage to the left wing spar. The pilot completed the taxi to the tie-down area without further incident. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had been more vigilant in watching and immediately correcting for any wind gusts that might upset the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2012, about 1145 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N7808Z, ground looped and impacted terrain during an after landing taxi at Meadow Lake Airport (FLY), Peyton, Colorado. The airline transport pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by High Flights Soaring Club Inc (HFSC) under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a glider tow flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which had not been operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from FLY about 1000. The pilot stated that before he towed anyone on any given day, he flew the tow airplane in the FLY traffic pattern and performed at least three simulated tow patterns and landings. On the day of the accident, the pilot was scheduled to be the on-duty tow pilot for HFSC. He performed several full-stop landings on runways 15 (6,000 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) and NS (1,800 feet by 15 feet, north 1,530 feet paved with asphalt) even though no one was scheduled to fly a sailplane. After his last full-stop landing, he cleared runway NS at mid-runway and taxied in a continuous sweeping right turn toward the northwest to the tie down area. About half-way through the right turn heading west, the airplane's right wing suddenly lifted upwards, which resulted in the left wing contacting the ground "in the blink of an eye" and before he could apply corrective control input. He did not see any airplane damage at first glance from the cockpit and continued the taxi to the tie down area without further incident. Postflight inspection of the airplane by the pilot and a mechanic revealed that the fabric for the top left wing was wrinkled, and the left rear wing spar was bent. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had been more vigilant in watching and immediately correcting for any wind gust conditions that might upset the airplane during taxi. He said to always fly the airplane to the chocks, never relax. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7808Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7808Z), registered now, S/N 18-8485, built 1966 (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: 18-8485 - Airframe hours: 7987 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: High Flights Soaring Club Inc - Registered owner: High Flights Soaring Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2012 - Departed: FLY, Peyton, CO - Destination: FLY, Peyton, CO - Airport: FLY, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 15R, 1,800 × 15 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 29,235 total, 350 in this make and model, 24,625 as pilot in command, 146 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: FLY ## 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 20120801015859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120801015859A), Aug 1, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Falcon, CO, Substantial damage. On 8/1/2012, N7808Z incurred substantial damage after landing at Meadowlake Airport. 1 sob, no injuries, VFR condintions prevailed. ## Other investigations on N7808Z (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 FTW95LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA221), May 27, 1995: Piper PA-18A-180 (N7808Z), Westcliffe, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE DUST DEVIL. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84588. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.