# NTSB CEN25LA236: Piper PA-18-150, N66898, Meeker, CO, July 3, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2025, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Meeker, CO - Coordinates: 40.053106, -107.88442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0531&lon=-107.8844&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: 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): 200473 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200473/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA236 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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. - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were completing a soft field landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane. The student pilot landed in a 3-point configuration and the airplane bounced so he increased the throttle and applied forward control input. The airplane then turned left, and the student pilot overcorrected to the right. The flight instructor attempted to correct with opposite rudder and brake; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, which resulted in a left main landing gear collapse. The left wing subsequently struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66898](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66898), registered now, S/N 18-7509091, built 1975 (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: 18-7509091 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 5522.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2025 - Departed: KEEO, Meeker, CO - Destination: KEEO, Meeker, CO - Airport: KEEO, Meeker Airport, runway 03/21, 6,503 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2024; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18,784 total, 198 in this make and model, 18,217 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 11.5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 51 total, 49 in this make and model, 11.45 as pilot in command, 27.7 in the last 90 days, 11.5 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 0 ft - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 3013.00 inHg - Observed at: KEEO, 0.5 nm away - METAR: KEEO 031353Z AUTO 13010KT 10SM CLR 17/06 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP108 T01670061 ## 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 20250703007889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250703007889A), Jul 3, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Meeker, CO, Substantial damage. Flight instructor was instructing student on take off and landings in an conventional gear aircraft. The aircraft bounced and started veering to the left. The… ## Other investigations on N66898 (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN16LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA348), Aug 25, 2016: Piper PA 18-180 (N66898), Colorado Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after encountering a wind gust during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. 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.