# NTSB DEN84LA029: Piper PA-18-180, N3594P, Colorado Spgs, CO, November 19, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 19, 1983, 10:28 local (17:28 UTC) - Place: Colorado Spgs, CO - Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 16293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16293/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA029 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command - stall/mush - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, standing - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not possible, pilot of other aircraft - In flight collision with object, takeoff - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not possible, dual student - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PIPER PA-18, N3594P, WAS BEING USED TO TOW A BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G103 TWIN ASTIR, N4246L. AT 0950 MST, THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 310 DEG AT 9 KTS. SINCE THE TERRAIN SLOPED DOWNHILL TO THE SOUTH, RWY 17R (COVERED WITH HARD PACKED SNOW) WAS BEING USED FOR TAKEOFF. THE GLIDER CLUB HAD A POLICY THAT ALL TAKEOFFS WOULD BE MADE TO THE SOUTH, BUT NO TAKEOFFS WERE PERMITTED IF THE TAILWIND EXCEEDS 20 KTS. THE TOW PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, A QUARTERING REAR GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED & FORCED THE ACFT BACK ONTO THE RWY. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AT THE END OF THE RWY, ROLLED INTO SNOW & NOSED OVER. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) IN THE GLIDER REPORTED THE GLIDER HAD JUST LIFTED OFF WHEN HE SAW THE TOW PLANE SETTLE TO THE GROUND & DISAPPEAR IN A CLOUD OF SNOW. THE GLIDER STUDENT RELEARSE THE TOW ROPE. THE GLIDER ENTERED THE CLOUD OF SNOW. WHEN IT EMERGED FROM THE CLOUD, THE GLIDER AIRCREW SAW THE INVERTED TOW PLANE IMMEDIATELY AHEAD. THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER HIT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OF THE TOW PLANE. TOW PLT EST GUSTS, 15 KTS. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PIPER PA-18, N3594P, WAS BEING USED TO TOW A BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUBAU G103 TWIN ASTIR, N4246L. AT 0950 MST, THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 310 DEG AT 9 KTS. SINCE THE TERRAIN SLOPED DOWNHILL TO THE SOUTH, RWY 17R (COVERED WITH HARD PACKED SNOW) WAS BEING USED FOR TAKEOFF. THE GLIDER CLUB HAD A POLICY THAT ALL TAKEOFFS WOULD BE MADE TO THE SOUTH, BUT NO TAKEOFFS WERE PERMITTED IF THE TAILWIND EXCEED 20 KTS. THE TOW PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, A QUARTERING REAR GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED & FORCED THE ACFT BACK ONTO THE RWY. THE ACFT TOUCH DOWN AT THE END OF THE RWY, ROLLED INTO SNOW & NOSED OVER. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) IN THE GLIDER REPORTED THE GLIDER HAD JUST LIFTED OFF WHEN HE SAW THE TOW PLANE SETTLE TO THE GROUND & DISAPPEAR IN A CLOUD OF SNOW. THE GLIDER STUDENT RELEASED THE TOW ROPE. THE GLIDER ENTERED THE CLOUD OF SNOW. WHEN IT EMERGED FROM THE CLOUD, THE GLIDER AIRCREW SAW THE INVERTED TOW PLANE IMMEDIATELY AHEAD. THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER HIT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OF THE TOW PLANE. TOW PLT EST GUSTS, 15 KTS. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N3594P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3594P), registered now, S/N 18-4552, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4552 - Airframe hours: 8046 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wave Flights, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 13, 1983 - Airport: CO26, Black Forest, runway 17R, 1,000 × ft, snow ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N4246L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G103 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3609 - Airframe hours: 673 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Waye Flights, Inc. - Registered owner: Craig Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1983 - Airport: CO26, Black Forest, runway 17R, 1,000 × ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3594P; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 862 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N4246L; age 60; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 5,100 total, 30 in this make and model, 4,720 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: COS, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19831119058152A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831119058152A), Nov 19, 1983: Piper PA18180, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. Settled back to snow covered ground on glider tow liftoff. Glider N4246L released but struck overturned tow plane. - [Accident 19831119058151A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831119058151A), Nov 19, 1983: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Colorado Spring, CO. Tow plane, N3594P, settled into deep snow and overturned after liftoff. Glider released but hit tow plane landing. ## Other investigations on N3594P (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 DEN70D0029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70D0029), Jun 27, 1969: Piper PA-18 (N3594P), Bosler, WY, 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.