# NTSB ERA12CA374: Piper PA-18A 150, N4895A, Farmingdale, NJ, May 26, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 26, 2012, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Farmingdale, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.185276, -74.121391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1853&lon=-74.1214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA374
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83808/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83808
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA374

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in gusty, crosswind conditions. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and "weathervaned" to the right. The pilot applied left rudder, but the airplane continued right, traveled off the side of the runway, and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The operator reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane also revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in gusty, crosswind conditions. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and "weathervaned" to the right. The pilot applied rudder to correct, but the airplane continued right, traveled off the side of the runway, and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The operator reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector also revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4895A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4895A), registered now, S/N 18-4997, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-4997
- Airframe hours: 8782
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: High Exposure Inc
- Registered owner: High Exposure Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2012
- Departed: OBI, Woodbine, NJ
- Destination: BLM, Farmingdale, NJ
- Airport: BLM, Monmouth Executive Airport, runway 32, 7,371 × 85 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 460 total, 18 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: BLM

## 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 20120526011829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120526011829A), May 26, 2012: Piper PA-18A 150, Belmar, NJ, Substantial damage. After touchdown on runway 32, aircraft N4895A ,struck right wingtip and right elevator on runway surface. Right wing received substantial damage.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83808. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo of damage to wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20damage%20to%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370675&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records - METARs (item 5, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370676&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20METARs-Master.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.