# NTSB CEN16LA348: Piper PA 18-180, N66898, Colorado Springs, CO, August 25, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2016, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.973331, -104.819999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9733&lon=-104.8200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93944/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93944 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA348 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after encountering a wind gust during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) ## Analysis The pilot had completed a local glider tow operation and was landing at an airfield at the base of the mountains. He indicated that, after touchdown and the landing roll, a "large gust of wind" came from the right side of the airplane and lifted the right wing. The pilot stated that, to regain directional control, he applied rudder, lowered the tailwheel, and applied pressure to both wheel brakes. He indicated that the left brake grabbed "more efficiently" than the right brake, which caused the airplane to exit the runway and ground loop. The right wing contacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the tailwheel revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather information for the airfield shortly before the accident did not note wind gusts, given the pilot's statement and the surrounding mountainous terrain, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control after encountering a wind gust during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2016, about 1300 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N66898, departed the left side of the runway on landing at United States Air Force Academy Airfield (AFF), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Big Q Aviation Corporation and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a glider towing operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he just completed a local glider towing operation and was landing on runway 16L. After a routine touchdown and roll out, there was a "large gust of wind" from the right side that lifted the right wing of the airplane. To "regain directional control," the pilot applied rudder, slowly lowered the tailwheel to the ground, and applied pressure to both wheel brakes. He stated that when he applied both wheel brakes, the left brake grabbed "more efficiently" than the right brake and the airplane turned to left and exited the runway. The airplane rotated counterclockwise and the right wheel dug into the soft dirt, and subsequently, the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated that when he began his shift that day, he was advised there "were issues with the steering of the tailwheel." An inspection of the tailwheel by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted the tailwheel functioned properly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66898](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66898), registered now, S/N 18-7509091, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-180 - 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: 18-7509091 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Operator: Big Q Aviation - Registered owner: Big Q Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: AFF, Colorado Springs, CO - Destination: AFF, Colorado Springs, CO - Airport: AFF, Usaf Academy Afld, runway 16L, 3,534 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 29,000 total, 65 in this make and model, 23,000 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: AFF ## 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 20160825009249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160825009249A), Aug 25, 2016: Piper PA-18-150, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. On August 25, 2016 at approximately 1:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 ground looped after experiencing a large gust of wind from the right during a landing… ## Other investigations on N66898 (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 CEN25LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA236), Jul 3, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N66898), Meeker, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93944. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement and Pilot's Training Information (item 2, .PDF, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20and%20Pilot%27s%20Training%20Information-Master.PDF - Statement from Pilot and Quality Assurance Manager to FAA (item 3, .PDF, 240 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20Pilot%20and%20Quality%20Assurance%20Manager%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Email from Pilot Claifying Medical and Ratings (item 4, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot%20Claifying%20Medical%20and%20Ratings-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.