# NTSB DEN85LQA03: Piper PA-18A, N1754A, Tucumcari, NM, July 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1985, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Tucumcari, NM
- Coordinates: 35.159523, -103.719642 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1595&lon=-103.7196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16771
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LQA03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16771/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LQA03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - acft/equip inadequate,visual restriction, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON JULY 4, 1985, AT 1400 MDT, A PIPER PA-18, N1754A, REGISTERED TO TED W. STALLINGS, DEPARTED THE DESIGNATED TAXIWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A CULVERT AT TUCUMCARI MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING TAXIED FOR THEPURPOSE OF A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THAT TIME, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1754A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1754A), registered now, S/N 18-1319 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-1319
- Airframe hours: 2759
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ted W. Stallings
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 1984, 110 hours before
- Airport: TCC, Tucumcari

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 9,850 total, 870 in this make and model, 9,600 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TCC

## 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 19850704031729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850704031729A), Jul 4, 1985: Piper PA18A, Tucumcari, NM, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed side of taxiway, nosed down and struck culvert. Pilot did not see jog in taxiway from back seat.

## Other investigations on N1754A (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 FTW97LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA241), Jun 27, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N1754A), Clovis, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was an unexpected gust of wind during landing touch down.

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.

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