# NTSB ERA10CA300: Piper PA-18-135, N2150A, North Myrtle Beach, SC, June 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 6, 2010, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: North Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.811668, -78.723892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8117&lon=-78.7239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 76229 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76229/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76229 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a climbing turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that due to a spacing request from air traffic control, he elected to perform a 360-degree turn while on final approach to landing. He initiated a climbing right turn, but the airplane “wouldn’t come out of the bank and…entered a stalled spin.” The airplane collided with terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airplane's controls or engine, and examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that due to a spacing request from air traffic control, he elected to perform a 360-degree turn while on final approach to landing. He initiated a climbing right turn, but the airplane “wouldn’t come out of the bank and…entered a stalled spin.” The airplane collided with terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact failures or malfunctions of the airplane controls or engine, and examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2150A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2150A), registered now, S/N 18-1862, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1862 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Barnstormer Flite Signs Inc - Registered owner: Barnstormer Flite Signs Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: KCRE, North Myrtle Beach, SC - Destination: KCRE, North Myrtle Beach, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KCRE, Grand Strand Airport, runway 23, 5,997 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 26, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 312 total, 80 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: kcre ## 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 20100606035149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100606035149A), Jun 6, 2010: Piper PA-18-135, North Myrtle, SC, Substantial damage. On June 6, 2010, at about 11:50 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-18-135 aircraft N2150A registered to barnstormer flite signs inc., operating as 14 CFR part… ## Other investigations on N2150A (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 MIA98LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA116), Mar 30, 1998: Piper PA-18-135 (N2150A), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control after landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76229. 573 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pitot-Static System Test Receipt (item 3, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pitot-Static%20System%20Test%20Receipt-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Conversation with Federal Aviation Administration Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Conversation%20with%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF 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.