# NTSB ERA15CA148: Piper PA 18, N37WP, Murfreesboro, TN, March 2, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 2, 2015, 16:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Murfreesboro, TN
- Coordinates: 35.877498, -86.377502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8775&lon=-86.3775&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90842/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90842
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA148

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground-loop and the left wing dragging the runway.

## 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-18, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101802), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During an instructional flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to stay in the traffic pattern for touch and go landing practice. During the landing rollout, the airplane started drifting to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the student pilot applied a hard correction to the right with the rudder pedals and the airplane ground looped, stopping 180 degrees from the landing direction. The flight instructor stated that he called for "my aircraft" when the student pilot made the hard correction, but the student pilot did not get off rudder pedals. Both the student pilot and flight instructor suspected that inadvertent brake application may have been applied in the heel brake equipped airplane. The flight instructor added that he did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the winds were light during the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing.

## Factual narrative

During an instructional flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to stay in the traffic pattern for touch and go landing practice. During the landing rollout, the airplane started drifting to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the student pilot applied a hard correction to the right with the rudder pedals and the airplane ground looped, stopping 180 degrees from the landing direction. The flight instructor stated that he called for "my aircraft" when the student pilot made the hard correction, but the student pilot did not get off rudder pedals. Both the student pilot and flight instructor suspected that inadvertent brake application may have been applied in the heel brake equipped airplane. The flight instructor added that he did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and the winds were light during the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37WP), registered now, S/N 18-756 (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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-756
- Year built: 1951
- Airframe hours: 5776.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Murfreesboro Aviation, doing business as Murfreesboro Aviation
- Registered owner: Badowski Russell S
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2014, 108 hours before
- Departed: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN
- Destination: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: MBT, Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, runway 36, 3,898 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,559 total, 12 in this make and model, 10,253 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11 total, 11 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: MQY, 11 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 20150302003029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150302003029A), Mar 2, 2015: Piper PA-18, Murfreesboro, TN, Substantial damage. Student pilot landed lost control on rollout. PIC (instructor) fail to gain control and aircraft ground looped.

## Other investigations on N37WP (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 ANC23LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA055), Jul 13, 2023: Piper PA-18 (N37WP), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
- [NTSB ANC12CA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA086), Aug 13, 2012: Piper PA-18 (N37WP), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger's inadvertent application of the brake pedals during landing, which resulted in a noseover.

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90842. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 3, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Student Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Student%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Weather Report (item 5, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Left Aileron (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Aileron%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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