# NTSB DEN03LA069: Piper PA-18-150, N40520, Kemmerer, WY, April 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2003, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Kemmerer, WY - Coordinates: 41.780334, -110.550872 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7803&lon=-110.5509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSFO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56852 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56852/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA069 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop/swerve and impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the wind gust and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while en route, she received ASOS weather updates. Approximately 30 minutes before landing, reported winds at the airport were 160 degrees at 6 knots. Approximately 10 nautical miles out, an update indicated that the winds were 120 degrees at 3 knots. During the landing roll on runway 16, the pilot encountered a gust of wind. The pilot attempted to regain control, but the airplane swerved to the right and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane's left main landing gear struck a ditch and the left wing tip struck the ground. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2003, approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N40520, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing roll at Kemmerer Municipal Airport (EMM), Kemmerer, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Rawlings, Wyoming, approximately 1115. The pilot stated that while en route to Kemmerer, she received weather updates from an automated surface observing system (ASOS). Approximately 30 minutes before landing, an update indicated that the winds at EMM were from 160 degrees at 6 knots. Approximately 10 nautical miles from EMM, an update indicated that the winds were from 120 degrees at 3 knots. During the landing roll on runway 16, she encountered a gust of wind. She attempted to regain control, but the airplane swerved to the right and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane's left main landing gear struck a ditch and the left wing tip struck the ground. The impact with the ground damaged the outboard 4 feet of the left wing, and buckled the aft strut on the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40520](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40520), registered now, S/N 18-7509121, 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: 18-75-009121 - Airframe hours: 1657 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Claudia C. Hase - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: RWL, Rawlings, WY - Destination: BOI, Boise, ID - Airport: EMM, Kemmerer Municipal, runway 16, 8,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 6, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,018 total, 170 in this make and model, 921 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20030420005579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030420005579A), Apr 20, 2003: Piper PA18150, Kemmerer, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 20, 2003, at approximately 1430 MDT, a Piper PA-18-150, N40520, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing roll at… ## Other investigations on N40520 (2) 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 SEA07CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA113), Apr 27, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N40520), Prineville, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot failing to correctly read the fuel quantity sight gauges. Factors include soft, brushy terrain, and the pilot's… - [NTSB FTW78DRJ17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DRJ17), Apr 23, 1978: Piper PA-18 (N40520), Ferriday, LA, substantial damage 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.