# NTSB DEN01LA078: Piper PA-18-150, N9464D, Grand Junction, CO, March 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 2001, 15:56 local (22:56 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.079269, -108.549736 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0793&lon=-108.5497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51983/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA078 ## Probable cause Failure by the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff roll. A factor was a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) ## Analysis During takeoff roll, with a direct crosswind of 13 knots, the 70 hour student pilot lost control of the aircraft and it exited the side of the runway and ground looped. The right wing and right main landing gear separated from the aircraft and the pilot sustained minor injuries. . ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2001, at 1556 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N9464D, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped and exited the side of the runway during takeoff roll at Walker Field, Grand Junction, Colorado. The student pilot and sole occupant received minor injuries. The flight was a local area student solo instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to information provided by air traffic control, the takeoff was being made on runway 11. The observed wind was from 020 degrees magnetic heading at 13 knots, which is a direct crosswind. (No crosswind limit is established for aircraft certificated under 14 CFR Part 23.) When the aircraft exited the side of the runway, collision with rough terrain caused the right wing and right main landing gear to separate from the aircraft. A review of the pilot's flight time and medical records revealed he had a total of 70 hours of flight experience all in the accident aircraft make and model, and he was denied a medical following his examination on July 7, 1999. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9464D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9464D), registered now, S/N 18-6707, built 1958 (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: 18-6707 - Airframe hours: 630 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles L. Baker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2001, 25 hours before - Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Airport: GJT, Grand Junction, runway 11, 10,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: front; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 1 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 20010329005589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010329005589A), Mar 29, 2001: Piper PA18150, Grand Junction, CO, No damage. (.19) On March 29, 2001, at 1556 MST, a Piper PA-18-150, N9464D, sustained substantial damage when it performed a ground loop and exited the side of the runway… 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.