# NTSB DEN99LA097: Piper PA-18, N897SP, Glenwood Sprngs, CO, June 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 1999, 16:17 local (22:17 UTC) - Place: Glenwood Sprngs, CO - Coordinates: 39.540897, -107.329666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5409&lon=-107.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46460/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control. A related factor was the gusty quartering tailwind. ## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vehicle ## Analysis The back seat pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was ferrying it home, accompanied by the pilot-in-command, who was seated in the front seat. When the airplane touched down, it veered off the right side of runway 14. Both pilots agreed that 'a gust of wind' caused the loss of control. Before control could be regained, the airplane collided with several parked vehicles, causing spar and rib damage to the right wing. Runway 32 was reported to be the active runway. Winds recorded at the nearest official weather reporting facility, located 26 miles northeast of the accident site, were from 240 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 22 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 1999, at 1617 mountain daylight time, a 1954 Piper PA-18-135, N897SP (civilian s.n. 18-3555, military s.n. 54-2355), was substantially damaged when it collided with vehicles during landing at Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The commercial certificated flight instructor and commercial certificated pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Heber, Utah, approximately 1200. The rear seat pilot had recently purchased the airplane from a repair facility in Yakima, Washington. It had been outfitted with a Lycoming O-320-B2C engine, rated at 160 horsepopwer, and he was delivering the airplane to his home base in Aspen, Colorado. Since he did not have a current medical certificate, the owner-pilot could not serve as pilot-in-command. As a result, the repair facility's chief pilot, seated in the front seat, accompanied him and was serving as pilot-in-command. During the flight, the pilot-in-command gave the owner-pilot tail wheel instruction and a biennial flight review. From Yakima, Washington, the route of flight was to Twin Falls, Idaho; Brigham City, Heber, and Roosevelt, Utah; thence to Glenwood Springs and Aspen, Colorado. When the airplane touched down at Glenwood Springs, it veered off the right side of runway 14. Both pilots agreed that "a gust of wind" caused the loss of control. Before control could be regained, the airplane collided with several parked vehicles, causing spar and rib damage to the right wing. Runway 32 was reported to be the active runway. Winds recorded at the nearest official weather reporting facility, located 26 miles northeast of the accident site, were from 240 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 22 knots. According to the New Piper Aircraft, Inc., this airplane vintage did not have a maximum demonstrated crosswind component chart because it was not required for FAA certification. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N897SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N897SP-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 54-2355, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3555 - Airframe hours: 1096 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert B. Rubey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1999, 13 hours before - Departed: 36U, HEBER, UT - Destination: GWS - Airport: GWS, Glenwood Springs Mun, runway 14, 3,305 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EGE, 26 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 19990606021589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990606021589A), Jun 6, 1999: Piper PA18, Glenwood Spring, CO, Substantial damage. On June 6, 1999, at 1617 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N897SP, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Glenwood… ## Other investigations on N897SP (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 ANC08FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08FA072), Jun 7, 2008: Piper PA-18 (N897SP), Quinhagak, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude in high winds, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent to the ground. Contributing to the… - [NTSB CHI82DA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA220), Jun 20, 1982: Piper PA-18 (N897SP), Hobart, IN, 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.