# NTSB CEN24LA373: Piper PA-18-150, N4155W, Delta, CO, September 28, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 28, 2024, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Delta, CO - Coordinates: 38.785667, -108.062 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7857&lon=-108.0620&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 195218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195218/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195218 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA373 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of aircraft control during a bounced landing and go-around, during which the right main landing gear struck a large rock, which damaged it such that it collapsed during the following landing, which caused the airplane to impact the ground resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: 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) - [Approach-VFR go-around: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing he allowed the airplane to sink faster than intended and it bounced on the main tires. He immediately executed a go-around; however, during the go-around the airplane went off the side of the runway, and struck thick bushes, terrain and rocks before gaining altitude. Just before gaining altitude, the airplane struck a large rock which damaged the right main landing gear. During the subsequent landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane’s nose and right wing struck the ground. The airplane then swung to the right and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4155W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4155W), registered now, S/N 1809063, built 1993 (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: 1809063 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 880 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Colorado Mesa University - Registered owner: Colorado Mesa University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2023 - Departed: GJT, Grand Junction, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AJZ, Blake Fld, runway 03/21, 5,598 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,531 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,456 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: KMTJ, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KMTJ 281553Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/05 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP202 T01940050= ## 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 20240928016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240928016159A), Sep 28, 2024: Piper PA-18-150, Delta, CO, Substantial damage. Airplane bounced upon landing. The pilot executed a go-around as the airplane began to climb the aircraft drifted past the left edge of the runway and the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195218. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17891577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17890722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.