# NTSB GAA15CA254: Piper PA 18-150, N18LP, LaBelle, FL, August 21, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 21, 2015, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: LaBelle, FL - Coordinates: 26.742776, -81.431114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7428&lon=-81.4311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration South Florida FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91955/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91955 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA254 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he touched down in the grass adjacent to the paved runway. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a low spot in the runway with about 3 to 4 inches of standing water. The wheels dug into the terrain and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, horizontal stabilizer, and left wing strut. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he should make it standard practice to make an inspection pass of the runway whenever he is landing on turf to determine the condition of the runway. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he touched down in the grass adjacent to the paved runway. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a low spot in the runway with about 3 to 4 inches of standing water. The wheels dug into the terrain and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, horizontal stabilizer, and left wing strut. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he should make it standard practice to make an inspection pass of the runway whenever he is landing on turf to determine the condition of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18LP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18LP), registered now, S/N 18-5501, built 1957 (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 O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5501 - Year built: 1957 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Low & Slow Aviation Ventures LLC - Registered owner: Low & Slow Aviation Ventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 4, 2014 - Departed: FMY, FORT MYERS, FL - Destination: X14, LaBelle, FL - Airport: X14, La Belle Muni, runway 14, 5,254 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2014; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,700 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,570 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KRSW, 21 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 20150821014929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150821014929A), Aug 21, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Labelle, FL, Substantial damage. The following is a pilot statement as received from[privacy data omitted] August 21, 2015 PA-18, supercub, N18LP departed page field, ft. myers, FL at about… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91955. 963 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.