# NTSB FTW03LA126: Piper PA-18, N18141, Moran, TX, April 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2003, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Moran, TX - Coordinates: 32.507499, -99.207778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5075&lon=-99.2078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56774 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56774/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA126 ## Probable cause Landing short of the runway due to the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in the airplane impacting a tree. A contributing factor was the short runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While landing at a private grass airstrip, the single-engine airplane touched down short of the runway. The airplane bounced, drifted right and struck a 7-foot tall mesquite tree. The aircraft came to rest on its nose, approximately 20 feet past the tree. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2003, approximately 1740 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18 tailwheel-equipped airplane, N18141, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree while landing at a private airstrip near Moran, Texas. The airplane was registered to two private individuals and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Ranger, Texas, at 1730. The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, that while landing to the west, the airplane touched down about 10 feet short of the 800-foot grass runway. The airplane bounced, drifted right and struck a 7-foot tall mesquite tree. The aircraft came to rest on its nose, approximately 20 feet past the tree. The pilot added that the left wing tip and aileron were damaged. The right wing leading edge outboard of the wing strut was dented, and the underside of the right wing had several tears in the fabric. The pilot stated that the wind was from 290 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18141](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18141), registered now, S/N 181332, built 1951 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1332 - Airframe hours: 1583 - Engines: Lycoming O-320A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert B. Butler - Registered owner: James P. Shultz and Robert B. Butler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2002, 58 hours before - Departed: F23, Ranger, TX - Destination: NONE, Moran, TX - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 270, 800 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 29, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °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 20030407004629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030407004629A), Apr 7, 2003: Piper PA18, Moran, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 7, 2003 at 17:00 hrs. A Piper PA-18-150, N18141, owned and operated by robert b. butler, holder of private pilot certificate no. 1665446, was… 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.