# NTSB CEN18CA176: Piper PA 18, N7265K, Albuquerque, NM, May 18, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2018, 18:47 local (May 18, 2018, 00:47 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.145278, -106.79528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1453&lon=-106.7953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18CA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18CA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control following an encounter with gusty crosswind during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101802), [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, 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis After an uneventful 40-minute cross-country flight, the pilot set up to land his tailwheel airplane. The pilot checked with the tower and the controller reported the wind from 240° at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot set up to land on runway 22. The pilot stated that upon landing, the airplane encountered a strong gusty crosswind and he lost directional control. The airplane veered to the left across the runway surface and flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, wing struts, and fuselage. ## Factual narrative After an uneventful 40-minute cross country flight, the pilot set up to land his tailwheel airplane. The pilot checked with the tower and they reported the wind from 240 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot set up to land on runway 22. The pilot stated that upon landing, the aircraft encountered a strong gusty crosswind and he lost directional control. The aircraft veered to the left across the runway surface and flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, wing struts, and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7265K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7265K), registered now, S/N 18-158, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18 (105 SPECIA) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-158 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 1400 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2018 - Departed: FMN, Farmington, NM - Destination: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II Airport, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,540 total, 12 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: AEG ## 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 20180517005479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180517005479A), May 17, 2018: Piper PA-18, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On may 17, 2017, at 1847 MST, a Piper PA-18, N7265K, registered to framing systems inc, ran off the runway while landing on rwy 22 at Double Eagle (aeg)… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97270. 3.4 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=40464704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.