# NTSB CEN15CA071: Piper PA 18-150, N41594, Minocqua, WI, December 7, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 7, 2014, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Minocqua, WI - Coordinates: 45.928054, -89.730834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9281&lon=-89.7308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA071 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare when a sudden wind shift occurred. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101828), [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-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 The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 18 while the wind was 170 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots. He explained that he attempted a three-point landing instead of a wheel landing because the airplane was equipped with "wheel-penetration skis." During the flare, the pilot observed that snow began blowing directly across the runway just ahead of the airplane. The airplane subsequently drifted to the right. The pilot corrected with rudder and aileron inputs and the airplane still drifted right. He decided to initiate a go-around. As he applied power in an attempted to fly out of the gusting crosswind, the right wing dropped. The ski-equipped right main gear collapsed when it impacted the snow with a side load. The right wing tip then contacted the snow and the airplane sustained substantial wing spar and firewall damage when it cartwheeled on its right wing tip, nose, left wing tip, and then balanced on its nose. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 18 while the wind was 170 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots. He explained that he attempted a three-point landing instead of a wheel landing because the airplane was equipped with "wheel-penetration skis." During the flare, the pilot observed that snow began blowing directly across the runway just ahead of the airplane. The airplane subsequently drifted to the right. The pilot corrected with rudder and aileron inputs and the airplane still drifted right. He decided to initiate a go-around. As he applied power in an attempted to fly out of the gusting crosswind, the right wing dropped. The ski-equipped right main gear collapsed when it impacted the snow with a side load. The right wing tip then contacted the snow and the airplane sustained substantial wing spar and firewall damage when it cartwheeled on its right wing tip, nose, left wing tip, and then balanced on its nose. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41594](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41594), registered now, S/N 1809113, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150) - 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: 1809113 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 649 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Butler John P - Registered owner: Butler John P - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 29, 2014 - Departed: ARV, Minocqua, WI - Destination: ARV, Minocqua, WI - Airport: ARV, Lakeland/Lee Memorial Field, runway 18, 5,150 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,394 total, 33 in this make and model, 112 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: KARV ## 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 20141207021319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141207021319A), Dec 7, 2014: Piper PA-18-150, Arbor Vitae, WI, Substantial damage. December 7, 2014 N45194 a Piper PA18-150 with a pilot and one passenger on board took a personal pleasure flight in minocqua Wisconsin. At approximately 1145… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90475. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421756&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.