# NTSB DEN89LA029: Piper PA-18-150, N4466Z, Baker, MT, November 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1988, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Baker, MT
- Coordinates: 46.279689, -104.279289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2797&lon=-104.2793&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 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17639
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17639/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA029

## 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
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,landing capability - exceeded (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS LANDING AFTER A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO PAX. THE PLT MADE A WHEELS LANDING ON RWY 30 WITH WIND REPORTED FROM 270 AT 28 KTS. DURING LANDING ROLL, A WIND GUST FROM THE LEFT SIDE, ESTIMATED BY THE PLT AS 50 KTS, LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK GRAVEL ON THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND THE GUST LIFTED THE TAIL. THE ACFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE CABIN TOP, RUDDER, PROPELLER AND WING SPAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4466Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8814
- Airframe hours: 1460
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Weeding, Rodney D., doing business as Air Specialties Inc
- Registered owner: Air Specialities, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 29, 1988, 10 hours before
- Departed: SDY, SIDNEY, MT
- Destination: BKU, BAKER, MT
- Airport: BKU, Baker-Fallon, runway 30, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,815 total, 815 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 355 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 28 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19881107052209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881107052209A), Nov 7, 1988: Piper PA18150, Baker, OR, Substantial damage. Trying to land in severe gusty crosswind was blown off runway and over on its back.

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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