# NTSB CEN23LA085: Piper PA-18-150, N41529, Brush, CO, January 17, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 17, 2023, 14:44, time zone not recorded
- Place: Brush, CO
- Coordinates: 40.264361, -103.57563 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2644&lon=-103.5756&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106590
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106590/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106590
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA085

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with strong gusty surface winds.

## 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-18-150, 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)
- [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)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tail wheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, when the airplane was slowed to taxi speed, it began to drift left. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane and it exited the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane entered a snow-covered field adjacent to the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing struts and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 25 with wind variable at 20-25 knots, gusting to 35 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41529](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41529), registered now, S/N 1809036, built 1989 (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: 1809036
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 6825
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4P 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Public use
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2022
- Departed: KAKO, Akron, CO
- Destination: KLHX, La Junta, CO
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: 7V5, Brush Municipal Airport, runway 07/25, 4,300 × 60 ft, snow
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, remote, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review August 26, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 6,500 total, 250 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 2970.00 inHg
- Observed at: KFMM, 11 nm away
- METAR: SA	17/01/2023 22:15->METAR KFMM 172215Z AUTO 08011KT 6SM BR OVC006 M02/M02 A2970 RMK AO2
SA	17/01/2023 21:55->METAR KFMM 172155Z AUTO 07011KT 7SM OVC007 M02/M02 A2968 RMK AO2
SA	17/01/2023 21:35->METAR KFMM 172135Z AUTO 08010KT 7SM OVC008 M02/M02 A2969 RMK AO2

## 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 20230117000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230117000239A), Jan 17, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, Brush, CO, Substantial damage. Flight from lajunta, CO to Brush, CO. Actual winds were variable with quarter tail cross wind at 11KTS. Ice patches on runway. During landing aircraft started…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106590. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15049605&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15049007&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20PDF-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.

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