DFW08CA113

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-18 · Santa Teresa, NM · April 23, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 23, 2008, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
Place
Santa Teresa, NM
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1588PPiper PA-18
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20080423832079A
Case key
67876

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the strong gusty crosswinds.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specifiedPiper PA-18: 5 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotPiper PA-18: 21 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot began a normal approach to runway 28 at his intended destination airport and stated that he had a large crosswind correction because of strong winds from the southwest. The airspeed was indicating between 60 and 70 miles per hour and no flaps were used. The pilot touched down on the main gear slightly to the right of the runway centerline and in good alignment with plenty of runway remaining. The pilot then decided due to the strong winds to attempt a go-around and applied power. According to the pilot's statement, a gust of wind brought the left wing up and the aircraft right wing appeared to be scraping the runway. The aircraft began to turn to the right and went off the north side of the runway at about 90 degrees from the runway heading. The airplane then went through a dried creek bed 10 to 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide approximately 100 feet north of the runway. The nose hit the north rim of the creek bed and the aircraft flipped and came to rest inverted facing to the west. The pilot was able to egress unassisted and sustained only minor injuries. Winds were reported at the time of the accident as 14 knots with gusts to 28 knots from 250 degrees.

Factual narrative

The pilot began a normal approach to runway 28 at his intended destination airport and stated that he had a large crosswind correction because of strong winds from the southwest. The airspeed was indicating between 60 and 70 miles per hour and no flaps were used. The pilot touched down on the main gear slightly to the right of the runway centerline and in good alignment with plenty of runway remaining. The pilot then decided due to the strong winds to attempt a go-around and applied power. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB 6120.1, Pilot /Operator Accident/ Incident Report, a gust of wind brought the left wing up and the aircraft right wing appeared to be scraping the runway. The aircraft began to turn to the right and went off the north side of the runway at about 90 degrees from the runway heading. The airplane then went through a dried creek bed 10 to 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide approximately 100 feet north of the runway. The nose hit the north rim of the creek bed and the aircraft flipped and came to rest inverted facing to the west. The pilot was able to egress unassisted and sustained only minor injuries. Winds were reported at the time of the accident as 14 knots with gusts to 28 knots from 250 degrees.

Aircraft

Registration
N1588P
Reported as
Piper PA-18
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18-3751
Airframe hours
2,307
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
War Eagles Air Museum
Registered owner
War Eagles Air Museum
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 1, 2007
Departed
MacGuire Ranch, NM
Destination
5T6 · Santa Teresa, NM
Airport
5T6 · Dona Ana County Airport, runway 28, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 1, 2006
Seat
Front
Flight hours
144 total · 18 in this make and model · 64 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 14 knots, gusting 28
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter
29.93 inHg
Observed at
KELP, 17 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.