# NTSB ERA21LA013: Piper PA18, N8788D, Plymouth, MA, October 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2020, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MA - Coordinates: 41.9086, -70.7277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9086&lon=-70.7277&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102122/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102122 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering gusting headwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 24 with a quartering headwind from the northwest gusting to 20 knots. During the landing roll, the flight encountered wind gusts from the northwest that caused the airplane to “weathercock” to the northwest and the pilot applied full engine power to go around. When the airplane was about 1 ft above ground level, the right main landing gear impacted a taxi light. The airplane then contacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8788D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8788D), registered now, S/N 18-6325, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (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: 18-6325 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3850.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Public use - Operator: County Of Plymouth - Registered owner: County Of Plymouth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2020, 29.3 hours before - Airport: PYM, Plymouth Municipal Airport, runway 24, 4,350 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,039.7 total, 31.6 in this make and model, 2,039.7 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 17 °F, dew point -1 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: PYM, 1 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 20201008017929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201008017929A), Oct 8, 2020: Piper PA-18-150, Plymouth, MA, Substantial damage. At 15:30 LCL on 10/08/2020, [privacy data omitted] was informed by the roc of an accident involving N8788D at pym. The aircraft was a PA-18-150 which was… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102122. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11546467&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Recd%2010%2027%202020_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11545006&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11545132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11546477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 917 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11548635&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 815 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11553171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20for%20Plane_Redacted-Rel.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.