# NTSB FTW95LA377: Piper PA-18-150, N4253Z, Westcliffe, CO, September 2, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1995, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Westcliffe, CO
- Coordinates: 38.129089, -105.460037 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1291&lon=-105.4600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA377
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19569/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA377

## Probable cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS GUSTING CROSS WINDS.

## 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
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL, FOLLOWING A GLIDER TOW FLIGHT, GUSTING CROSS WINDS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WENT DOWN A 20 TO 25 DEGREE SLOPE, AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 1995, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA- 18-150, N4253Z, departed the side of the runway and nosed over during landing roll at Westcliffe, Colorado.  The private (commercial glider) pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a glider tow flight when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The tow portion of the flight was complete and the pilot was conducting a final landing.  According to the pilot, during landing roll, the wind was gusting between 10 and 20 knots from the west and the aircraft deviated to the west and went off the side of the runway.  The pilot said there was a slope of 20 to 25 degrees off that side of the runway and the aircraft went down the slope and nosed over.

The nearest weather observation facility was approximately 30 miles away, over a range of 14,000 mountains.  Thus the recorded weather is not necessarily indicative of the weather at the accident site.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4253Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4253Z-2017-03-10), registration cancelled 2017-03-10, S/N 18-8491, built 1967 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8491
- Airframe hours: 1762
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Denver Soaring Council
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 1995, 64 hours before
- Departed: 4C03
- Airport: 4C03, Silver West, runway 31, 5,650 × 40 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 988 total, 80 in this make and model, 877 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALS, 30 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 19950902027659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950902027659A), Sep 2, 1995: Piper PA18150, Westcliffe, CO, Substantial damage. Landing after glider tow. Veered off runway down embankment. Nosed over. Gusty crosswinds, pilot control factors.

## Other investigations on N4253Z (1)

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 MKC67D0521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67D0521), Jan 25, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N4253Z), Wabek, ND, substantial damage

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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