# NTSB FTW95TA390: Piper PA-18-150, N2357Z, Brackettville, TX, August 15, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: August 15, 1995, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Brackettville, TX - Coordinates: 29.309835, -100.409538 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3098&lon=-100.4095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95TA390 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19596/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95TA390 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE VARIABLE CROSSWIND. ## 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 - variable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED, THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WITH A LEFT FRONT QUARTERING CROSS WIND, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE LEFT. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN WITHOUT RESULTS. HE THEN APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO 'STRAIGHTEN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY AND TAKEOFF TO AVOID OTHER PROBLEMS.' AS FULL POWER WAS APPLIED, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT SWUNG TO THE 'FAR RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND BACK TO THE LEFT.' THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE, AND CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF HIGHWAY 131, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME ADJACENT TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHING POINTS. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A HEADING OF 195 DEGREES TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE OWNER OF THE AIRSTRIP REPORTED THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE VARIABLE FROM THE EAST AT 10 MPH GUSTING TO 20 MPH, WITH THE WIND SOCK TURNING MORE THAN 30 DEGREES DURING THESE GUSTS. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1995, at 1045 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18- 150, N2357Z, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during a crosswind landing at Spofford Airstrip (55XS), near Brackettville, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The U.S. Border Patrol airplane was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Del Rio, Texas, at 0900 CDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot reported in a written statement, that during the landing roll, with a left front quartering crosswind, the nose of the aircraft turned to the left. Corrective action was taken without results. He further reported that he applied full power in an attempt to "straighten the aircraft with the runway and takeoff to avoid other problems." As full power was applied, the nose of the aircraft swung to the "far right and would not respond back to the left." According to the operator, the pilot was landing on a heading of 195 degrees. The aircraft departed the right side of the runway, struck a fence, and came to rest on the edge of Highway 131, resulting in structural damage to the airframe adjacent to the main landing gear attaching points. The Spofford Airstrip is also called Malone Airstrip. See the enclosed airport diagram. The owner of the airstrip reported the winds at the time of the accident were variable from the east at 10 MPH gusting to 20 MPH, with the wind sock turning more than 30 degrees during these gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2357Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2357Z), registered now, S/N 18-8109016, built 1980 (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: 18-8109016 - Airframe hours: 8329 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: U.S Border Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: DRT, DEL RIO, TX - Destination: 55XS - Airport: 55XS, Spofford Private, runway 19, 4,300 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,474 total, 36 in this make and model, 982 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °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 19950815047649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950815047649A), Aug 15, 1995: Piper PA18150, Brackettville, TX, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing in variable gusty crosswind. Exited runway struck a fence. Stopped edge of highway 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.