# NTSB CEN25LA188: Piper PA-18, N7175D, Vega, TX, May 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 26, 2025, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Vega, TX
- Coordinates: 35.235842, -102.39919 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2358&lon=-102.3992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200228
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200228/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200228
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA188

## Probable cause

The airplane’s inadvertent encounter with a localized low boundary layer, which caused a wind shift, and a gusting tailwind during final approach, that resulted in the pilot deciding to impact a wind cone and a subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing was the low-level convective turbulence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/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, 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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported the airplane departed from the airport with a passenger onboard for a local area flight. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for landing on a grass strip, that parallels the asphalt runway. As the airplane descended and turned from base to final, the airplane encountered a “pocket of unstable air” and a “heavy gust” that pushed the right wing up and caused the airplane to rapidly descend. The pilot applied right aileron and full power. The pilot was able to level the airplane; however, it continued to descend. Due to the location of the airplane at the time, the pilot decided to impact the lighted wind cone (a L-807 structure, size 2, located inside of a segmented circle) with the airplane, as opposed to performing an aggressive turn and the right wing impacting the ground. The airplane impacted the wind cone, the wind cone structure collapsed, and the windsock separated from the structure. The airplane came to rest upright on the grass strip. The pilot and the passenger were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, the right wing, and the right wing strut. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. A weather study showed that at the time of the accident, a line of cumulus clouds along a convergence zone had passed with a wind shift to the north. This convergence zone likely amplified the turbulence in the low-level boundary layer and resulted in localized gusty winds and convective turbulence. A review of available weather information revealed that the wind shift was not forecasted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7175D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7175D), registered now, S/N 18-5634, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-5634
- Year built: 1957
- Airframe hours: 8052
- Engines: Continental Motors C90 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: N7175d LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2024, 8 hours before
- Airport: E52, Oldham County, runway 17/35, 4,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2024; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,780 total, 440 in this make and model, 1,780 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: KHRX, 23 nm away
- METAR: KHRX 262035Z AUTO 14011G15KT 10SM CLR 25/13 A3003 RMK AO2 T02460133 TSNO

## 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 20250526006309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250526006309A), May 26, 2025: Piper PA-18, Vega, TX, Substantial damage. On may 26, 2025, at 1540 CDT, a Piper PA-18 impacted terrain while attempting to land and incurred substantial damage. The aircraft was being operated on a…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200228. 7.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18861039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA188%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18861329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot - additional information (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18888889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20-%20Additional%20Question_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport - information (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18869366&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Information_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB weather study (item 5, PDF, 15 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18889565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA188%20-%20Weather%20Study-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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