# NTSB CEN26LA134: Piper PA-18-150, N3695Z, Sonora, TX, March 4, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 4, 2026, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Sonora, TX - Coordinates: 30.585764, -100.64869 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5858&lon=-100.6487&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202610 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202610/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202610 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and hard landing. ## 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: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane felt like it was on the edge of an aerodynamic stall and would only climb to the top of ground effect. The pilot attempted to maintain 50 mph with aircraft pitch; however, the airplane drifted left and descended into terrain left of the runway and landed hard. During the hard landing, the right main landing gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Following the accident, the pilot initially reported the airspeed indications were normal during the flight. He then reported concerns with the airspeed indicator for possible water intrusion into the pitot/static system due to recent heavy rains which may have resulted in erroneous airspeed indications. The pitot/static system and airspeed indicator were tested by a maintenance facility which recovered the airplane and found to be within normal operating limitations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3695Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3695Z), registered now, S/N 18-7430, built 1961 (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: 18-7430 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 1103 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2026 - Destination: FST, Fort Stockton, TX - Airport: SOA, Sonora Municipal, runway 18, 4,037 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, military, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,854 total, 84 in this make and model, 8,507 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KSOA - METAR: METAR KSOA 041915Z AUTO 16007KT BKN031 BKN070 BKN090 24/16 A3005 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 20260304001629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260304001629A), Mar 4, 2026: Piper PA-18-150, Sonora, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was departing ksoa and excuted a practice short field take-off. Pilot stated he flew slower than typical rate of rotation. Pilot stated he… ## Other investigations on N3695Z (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 DEN67A0002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67A0002-201493), Jul 7, 1966: Piper PA-18 (N3695Z), Quemado, NM, destroyed, 2 fatal ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202610. 2.2 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=20533949&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AF%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20533309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Pitot system mor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20978952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pitot%20MOR-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.