# NTSB FTW01LA160: Piper PA-18-150, N220H, Mount Pleasant, TX, July 4, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2001, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Mount Pleasant, TX
- Coordinates: 33.159347, -94.970405 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1593&lon=-94.9704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52641
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52641/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA160

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll.  A contributing factor was his lack of total experience in tail wheel-equipped airplanes.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot had received tail wheel endorsement training earlier that day in the accident airplane.  The pilot was performing his second solo landing on runway 17 when he ground looped the airplane.  The pilot reported that the winds were from the south at 5 knots.

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2001, at 1030 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 tail-wheel equipped airplane, N220H, was substantially damaged when it ground looped on landing at the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport, Mount Pleasant, Texas.  The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot.  The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight.  The local flight departed Mount Pleasant at 1020.

According to the aircraft owner, the pilot had received tail wheel endorsement training earlier that day in the accident airplane.  The pilot was performing his second solo landing on runway 17 when he ground looped the airplane.  The pilot reported that the wind was from 180 at 5 knots at the time of the accident.

According to the aircraft owner and an aircraft mechanic, the right spar, outboard of the wing strut, was bent up.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N220H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N220H), registered now, S/N 18-7709118 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7709118
- Airframe hours: 562
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mark R. Elgin
- Registered owner: Raymond Elgin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2001, 22 hours before
- Departed: MSA, Mount Pleasant, TX
- Airport: MSA, Mount Pleasant Municipal, runway 17, 3,837 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 26, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 315 total, 2 in this make and model, 308 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 20010704020549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010704020549A), Jul 4, 2001: Piper PA18150, Mount Pleasant, TX, No damage. (-23) On July 4, 2001 at 10:30 am, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N220H was damaged when the aircraft ground looped at the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport in…

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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