# NTSB FTW98LA398: Piper PA-18-150, N4037E, Watkins, CO, September 13, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 1998, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.749526, -104.600479 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7495&lon=-104.6005&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43924/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA398 ## Probable cause Gusting winds which blew the aircraft inverted during taxi. ## 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 - gusts (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command ## Analysis Following landing from a banner tow flight, the pilot was taxiing to parking and headed into the wind when a wind gust lifted the aircraft which then came to rest inverted. Reported wind velocity at the time was 9 knots with gusts to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 1998, at 1600 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4037E, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi at Aurora Air Park, Aurora, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was a local area banner tow flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to information provided via the pilot report of the accident, the aircraft encountered a wind gust during taxi following landing and nosed over. The pilot said that the aircraft was heading into the wind and he was waiting for wing walkers to assist taxiing back to the hangar when a gust lifted the aircraft. He said he applied power to try and establish control; however, the aircraft rolled to the right and came to rest inverted. The nearest weather reporting facility to the accident site was Denver international Airport, located approximately 6 miles north of Aurora Air Park. At the time of the accident they were reporting winds form 350 degrees magnetic heading at 9 knots with gusts to 18 knots. Terrain between the airports is flat farm land. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4037E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4037E), registered now, S/N 18-7809043 (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: 18-7809043 - Airframe hours: 2832 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Banner Advertising, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 1998, 43 hours before - Departed: O1V - Airport: O1V, Aurora Airpark, runway 35, 2,500 × 35 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 605 total, 64 in this make and model, 569 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DVX, 6 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 19980913023999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980913023999A), Sep 13, 1998: Piper PA18150, Aurora, CO, Substantial damage. Banner towing acft ground looped on landing. (-23)aircraft departed Aurora airpark (01V) at approximately 15:45 MDT, September 13, 1998, on a local banner… ## Other investigations on N4037E (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 DEN92LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA084), Aug 5, 1992: Piper PA-18-150 (N4037E), Littleton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADVERTENT STALL DURING FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING. 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.