# NTSB GAA16CA265: Piper PA 18-150, N41553, Laurel, MT, May 30, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 30, 2016, 10:26 local (16:26 UTC)
- Place: Laurel, MT
- Coordinates: 45.704444, -108.759445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7044&lon=-108.7594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA265
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93272/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93272
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA265

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing touchdown, resulting in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the both wings.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during the landing touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the airplane's right wing and forced the airplane to the left side of runway 32. The pilot reported that he overcompensated with right rudder and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. The meteorological aerodrome report at the nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was about 11 miles northeast reported: 310353Z 07005KTS 10SM FEW075 FEW150 SCT200 11/02 A3013 RMK AO2

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, during the landing touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the airplane's right wing and forced the airplane to the left side of runway 32. The pilot reported that he overcompensated with right rudder and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. The meteorological aerodrome report at the nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was about 11 miles northeast reported: 310353Z 07005KTS 10SM FEW075 FEW150 SCT200 11/02 A3013 RMK AO2

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41553](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41553), registered now, S/N 1809067, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150)
- 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: 1809067
- Year built: 1993
- Airframe hours: 976
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tri-W Inc.
- Registered owner: Tri-W Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2015
- Departed: 6S8, Laurel, MT
- Destination: 6S8, Laurel, MT
- Airport: 6S8, Laurel Municipal, runway 32, 2,725 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 13, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 177 total, 16 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KBIL, 11 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 20160530007849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160530007849A), May 30, 2016: Piper PA-18-150, Laurel, MT, Substantial damage. On a local flight from the Laurel municipal airport (6S8) N41553 crashed will attempting to perform a crosswind landing on runway 32. The aircraft received…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93272. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.

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