# NTSB CHI03LA127: Piper PA-18-135, N2581A, Prescott, WI, May 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2003, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Prescott, WI - Coordinates: 44.788055, -92.677223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7881&lon=-92.6772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot delaying the go-around and the maneuver to avoid the treeline. Factors to the accident were the treeline and the airplane's low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane impacted terrain after the pilot lost control during an attempted go-around. The pilot reported the airplane floated in ground effect so he decided to go-around. The pilot stated the airplane was unable to clear a line of trees off the south end of the runway. The pilot indicated he banked the airplane to the left, "but still felt [he] could not clear the north-south tree line to the east." The pilot reported he increased his rate of turn, and the airplane subsequently lost altitude and impacted terrain. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2003, at 1100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135, N2581A, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with the terrain near Prescott, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries and the passenger reported serious injuries. The local flight departed a private airstrip near Prescott, Wisconsin, at 1000. The pilot stated that during landing the airplane was still floating in ground effect as he approached the south end of the runway, and he decided to go-around. The pilot reported he increased engine power to full, turned off the carburetor heat, and left the wing flaps fully extended. The pilot stated the airplane was unable to clear a line of trees at the end of the runway. The pilot indicated he banked the airplane to the left, "but still felt [he] could not clear the north-south tree line to the east." The pilot stated he "tightened the turn to avoid [the trees]." The pilot reported the airplane lost altitude and impacted the terrain. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2581A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2581A), registered now, S/N 18-2157, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2157 - Airframe hours: 2490 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-DZ 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2002, 28 hours before - Departed: PVT, Prescott, WI - Destination: PVT, Prescott, WI - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 18, 1,300 × 45 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 13, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 397 total, 324 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.43 inHg - Observed at: SGS, 15 nm away ## 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 20030515008509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030515008509A), May 15, 2003: Piper PA18135, Prescott, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) While attempting to land the pilot realized he was too FAR east of the grass strip. Initiated a go around and due to the trees at the end of the strip… 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.