# NTSB CEN16LA193: Piper PA 18-150, N4234Z, Cozad, NE, May 24, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2016, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Cozad, NE - Coordinates: 40.947776, -99.930831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9478&lon=-99.9308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93239/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93239 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA193 ## Probable cause An in-flight loss of control for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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 specified (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) - [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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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) - [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 commercial pilot was conducting an aerial application flight about 25 ft above ground level when the airplane suddenly made an uncommanded descent and impacted a wheat field. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained damage to both wings, wing struts, fuselage, and tail surfaces. Although the pilot noted some discrepancies with the airplane after it was rebuilt, examination of the wreckage, including the horizontal jackscrew assembly, did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2016, about 1010 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4234Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Cozad, Nebraska. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to the pilot and was operated by Gothenburg Flying Service, Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural application flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and no flight plan had not been filed. The local flight departed Fiese Airstrip (2NE5), Gothenburg, Nebraska, about 1000. The pilot said he had just finished purging the spray booms of air and rinsate and was flying 25 feet above the ground when the airplane suddenly made an uncommand descent. The right wing struck the flat wheat field and the airplane skidded to a stop, coming to rest inverted about 120 feet from the initial point of impact. There was substantial damage to both wings, wing struts, fuselage, and tail surfaces. The airplane had recently been rebuilt. The pilot/owner noted multiple discrepancies with the airplane following delivery. One discrepancy was that the jackscrew and drive pulley assembly for the horizontal stabilizer were not replaced as he had requested. He noted that the jackscrew assembly was worn and there was excessive slack in the drive cable. Pitch trim had to be constantly adjusted as a result. The builder had told the pilot that the assembly had been "tightened up." The pilot stated that this was not possible as the screw was made of steel and the housing was made of aluminum. The FAA conducted examinations of the airplane following the accident and noted play in the jackscrew assembly, but determined the slack was insufficient to cause the screw to slip. No other mechanical issues were found with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4234Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4234Z), registered now, S/N 18-8460, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 - 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: 18-8460 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5607 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gothenburg Flying Service, Inc., doing business as Gothenburg Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Larry J Fiese - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2016, 7 hours before - Departed: 2NE5, Gothenburg, NE - Destination: 2NE5, Gothenburg, NE - Airport: 2NE5, Fiese Airstrip - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,397 total, 100,016 in this make and model, 639,710 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KLXN, 12 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 20160524018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160524018059A), May 24, 2016: Piper PA-18-150, Cozad, NE, Substantial damage. The applicator was entering a wheat field from the north northwest corner of the field to be sprayed, headed to the south east corner where he intended to turn… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93239. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470280&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Letter from Pilot Fiese (item 2, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20from%20Pilot%20Fiese-Master.PDF - E-Mail from Larry Fiese (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20Larry%20Fiese-Master.PDF - Horizontal Stabilizer Trim Assembly and Jackscrew (item 4, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20Trim%20Assembly%20and%20Jackscrew-Master.PDF - Investigator's Sketch (item 5, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470284&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigator%27s%20Sketch-Master.PDF - E-Mail from FAA (item 6, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20FAA-Master.PDF - FAA E-Mail 2 (item 7, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20E-Mail%202-Master.PDF - Portion of the Omaha Sectional Chart Depicting Gotherburg and Cozad, Nebraska (item 8, .PDF, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Portion%20of%20the%20Omaha%20Sectional%20Chart%20Depicting%20Gotherburg%20and%20Cozad,%20Nebraska-Master.PDF - Aerial Map of Accident Site (item 9, .PDF, 420 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470288&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20Map%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 10, .PDF, 2 photos, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.