# NTSB FTW98FA101: Piper PA-18-135, N99302, Wooster, AR, January 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 16, 1998, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Wooster, AR - Coordinates: 35.160713, -92.450103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1607&lon=-92.4501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98FA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20401/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA101 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees during an aborted landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's delayed decision to abort the long landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - tree(s) - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis Two eye-witnesses, located within 200 meters of the takeoff point, reported that they observed the single-engine airplane land long on a grass pasture that was being utilized as a landing area. After a short landing roll, engine power was heard being applied for a 'go-around.' Soon after becoming airborne, the aircraft was observed to have attained a nose high attitude prior to impacting the tops of 70-foot high trees located north of the departure end of the landing area. The witnesses stated that the engine sounded normal. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure or malfunction was observed. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 16, 1998, approximately 1715 central standard time, a Piper PA-18-135 tailwheel equipped airplane, N99302, registered to a private individual, collided with trees and terrain during an aborted landing at a grass covered pasture, near Wooster, Arkansas. Impact damage and fire destroyed the airplane. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger occupying the aft seat sustained serious injuries. 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 the pasture approximately 1710. The NTSB investigator-in-charge conducted interviews with two witnesses who saw the accident. They were co-located about 600 feet from the accident site adjacent to the grass pasture where the pilot was performing touch-and-go landings in a south to north pattern. The pasture had been utilized that afternoon for a landing area, and the pilot was giving backseat rides to friends in the tandem two-seat aircraft. The pasture was bordered by a 70-foot high tree line on the northern end. The first witness, who had a ride in the airplane about 5 minutes prior to the accident, reported that the airplane was running "great" during his ride. The witness observed the airplane touch down, and it appeared that the airplane "was moving fast" and was "running out of landing room." He stated that it looked as if the pilot was "trying to go around," and the airplane "powered up" and attained "a very steep angle of attack trying to clear [the] trees." The airplane then "hit" a tree, nosed over, and "hit more trees." He stated that the airplane sounded as if it was "still under full power" as it disappeared below the tree line. The second witness stated that he observed the airplane "over shoot" the landing area, and that it appeared that the pilot was trying to "go around." As the nose of the airplane came up, "the [airplane] stalled." The airplane then "hit timber" and "fell to the ground." PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to FAA records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate dated December 17, 1993. The pilot's logbook was not located; however, the pilot's last application for a medical certificate, dated August 16, 1990, revealed that he had a total of 600 flight hours at the time of application. No record of the pilot's last biennial flight review was found. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane, serial number 18-3338, was manufactured by Piper in 1954. The airplane was purchased by the current owner on January 2, 1998, two weeks prior to the accident. According to the owner of the airplane, the most recent annual inspection was completed on the morning of the accident. He stated that the airframe had accumulated about 3,071 hours. The airplane was flown throughout the day for about 3.5 hours. The owner stated that the airframe and engine logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the accident and were destroyed by fire. No other maintenance records were located. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane came to rest in a heavily wooded area north of the departure end of the pasture. Several tree branches were found cut along the airplane's path through the trees. Flight control continuity was established to all flight control surfaces. The throttle control linkage at the carburetor was found in the full open position. The mixture control linkage was found in the idle cutoff position. The engine sustained moderate fire damage and remained attached to the airframe. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand and continuity was established to the valve train and the accessory gear case. There was thumb compression on all 4-cylinders. Both magnetos remained attached to the engine but were severely burned. The 2-blade propeller was found attached to the engine. One propeller blade was bent slightly forward, and the other blade was not bent. Both blades exhibited chordwise scratching and scoring. The wing flaps were found in the fully retracted position. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy and toxicological tests on the pilot were requested and performed. The autopsy was completed by the Arkansas Crime Lab at Little Rock, Arkansas, on January 20, 1998. No pre-existing medical condition of the pilot was revealed as a result of the autopsy. Toxicological tests were performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Toxicological tests were negative. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner of the airplane at the accident site. The owner returned a partially completed Pilot/Operator Report to the NTSB. Attempts to obtain a completed report were not successful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99302](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99302-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 18-3338, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3338 - Airframe hours: 3072 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred M. Burnett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1998, 4 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °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 19980116000409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980116000409A), Jan 16, 1998: Piper PA18135, Wooster, AR, Destroyed. Acft struck trees and crashed, pilot suffered fatal inj, acft was destroyed, Wooster, AR. (-23) on January 16, 1998, at 16:55 CST, a Piper PA18-135, N99302,… 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.