# NTSB FTW80DQD11: Piper PA-18, N9929P, Tornillo, TX, June 18, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 18, 1980
- Place: Tornillo, TX · TORNILLO, TX
- Location: 31.4367° N, 106.1032° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tornillo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4367&lon=-106.1032&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80DQD11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DQD11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0559  80/6/18    TORNILLO,TX         PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 800
        TIME - 1000                    N9929P              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 540 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VAN HORN,TX                 TORNILLO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOCAL WHIRLWIND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      85
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LANDED ON HIGHWAY
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9929P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9929P), registered now, S/N 18-7709009, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800618024439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800618024439A), Jun 18, 1980: Piper PA18150, Tornillo, TX, Substantial damage. Landed on a state highway for farm purpose. Whirlwind struck airplane on landing roll. Ran into a ditch.

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.