# NTSB CEN21LA337: Piper PA18, N83411, Larimore, ND, July 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 24, 2021, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Larimore, ND - Coordinates: 47.9034, -97.6379 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9034&lon=-97.6379&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 103558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103558/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103558 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA337 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during the initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane began turning left immediately after takeoff and did not seem to be responding to his control inputs. His attempts to maintain control were not successful and the airplane climb rate was deteriorating with the engine at full power. He recalled attempting to “pull back” as the airplane impacted the trees. The airplane sustained damage to the fuselage and both wings. A postaccident examination confirmed flight control continuity with no evidence of a preimpact flight control anomaly. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2021, about 0715 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N83411, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Larimore, North Dakota. The pilot was seriously injured; the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, run-up, and initial portion of the takeoff were normal; however, immediately after lifting off, the airplane began turning left and did not seem to be responding to his control inputs. He attempted to maintain control using opposite rudder and aileron, but the airplane continued to the left. The climb rate was deteriorating with the engine at full power, and he thought the airplane might aerodynamically stall. He recalled attempting to “pull back” as the airplane impacted the trees. The airplane impacted trees about 100 yards southwest of the arrival threshold of runway 30 oriented on a southeast heading and came to rest in a nose-down attitude within the tree line. The airframe sustained damage to the fuselage and both wings. A postaccident examination confirmed flight control continuity with no evidence of a preimpact flight control anomaly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83411](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83411), registered now, S/N 18-7609122 (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: 18-7609122 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 2507 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2020, 11 hours before - Departed: 2L1, Larimore, ND - Destination: 4V4, Northwood, ND - Airport: 2L1, Larimore Municipal, runway 30, 2,914 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 6, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,169 total, 41 in this make and model, 1,022 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: RDR, 10 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 20210724011719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210724011719A), Jul 24, 2021: Piper PA-18-150, Larimore, ND, Substantial damage. The accident aircraft departed runway 30. The aircraft began a hard left turn immediately after lift-off. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103558. 19.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 15.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12746011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN21LA337_redacted-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12756058&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA_Ochsner%20--%2008Sep2021-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 979 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12753238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA337-Rel.pdf - Airplane maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12756267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Records%20--%20N83411_redacted-Rel.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.