# NTSB DFW06CA063: Piper PA-18-150, N744, Gail, TX, January 30, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 30, 2006, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Gail, TX - Coordinates: 32.913887, -101.495552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9139&lon=-101.4956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63170/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing a predator control flight while on a public use mission for a government agency. The 5,843-hour commercial pilot reported that the flight profile of the flight required operation at low altitude. The pilot reported that about an hour and fifty minutes into the flight, the airplane settled into a mesquite tree thicket while maneuvering. The pilot was able to add full power, arrest the descent, and eventually fly out of the thicket. The pilot found an open pasture about 1/2 mile from the location of the mishap, and landed to survey the damage to the airplane. The pilot found structural damage had occurred to the tail section of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing a predator control flight while on a public use mission for a government agency. The 5,843-hour commercial pilot reported that the flight profile of the flight required operation at low altitude. The pilot reported that about an hour and fifty minutes into the flight, the airplane settled into a mesquite tree thicket while maneuvering. The pilot was able to add full power, arrest the descent, and eventually fly out of the thicket. The pilot found an open pasture about 1/2 mile from the location of the mishap, and landed to survey the damage to the airplane. The pilot found structural damage had incurred to the tail section of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N744](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N744), registered now, S/N 18-8309009, built 1982 (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: 18-8309009 - Airframe hours: 11679 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: U.S. Department of Agriculture - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2005 - Departed: SWW, Sweetwater, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SWW, Avenger Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 5,843 total, 5,732 in this make and model, 5,653 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: LBB ## 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 20060130000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060130000919A), Jan 30, 2006: Piper PA18150, Gail, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 30, 2006, the pilot-in-command of N744, a PA-18-150 departed the sweetwater, Texas, airport (sww), at 0730 CST (1330Z). The aircraft is… ## Other investigations on N744 (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 DFW07TA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07TA089), Mar 29, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N744), Sweetwater, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the failure of the throttle lever/linkage. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. 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.