# NTSB GAA18CA269: Piper PA 18-150, N2432H, Goose Bay, AK, May 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 7, 2018, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Goose Bay, AK - Coordinates: 61.394721, -149.842224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3947&lon=-149.8422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97223/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97223 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA269 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a gusting tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; 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) - [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) ## Analysis According to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during his initial solo flight in the airport traffic pattern, he performed a go-around because "I did not like my approach." Following the next approach, he recalled that the airplane encountered a left crosswind gust when the airplane touched down on the gravel runway. He believed that the wind had shifted, and the airplane's tail was "blown" to the right, and its nose turned to the left. The airplane moved from the crown of the runway onto the down-sloping runway edge, and the tailwheel entered the soft gravel. The right wing tip then struck the ground, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The nearest METAR, located 9 miles south of the accident site, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 8. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was variable at 6 knots, gusting to 10 knots. The student reported that, "I should have caught that there had been a wind shift between my touch and go and when I ground looped my aircraft. In preparation for landing a final check of the windsock needs to be done, every time. If there is a crosswind, a wing low approach would have helped avoid losing control of the aircraft when I touched down." The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during his initial solo-flight in the airport traffic pattern, he performed a go-around because "I did not like my approach". Following his next approach, he recalled that the airplane encountered a crosswind gust from the left, when the airplane touched down on the gravel runway. He believed that the wind had shifted, and the airplane's tail was "blown" to the right and the nose of the airplane turned to the left. The airplane moved from the crown of the runway onto down sloping edge and the tailwheel entered the soft gravel. The weight of the airplane shifted in the direction of the airplane's momentum and the right wing tip struck the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The nearest METAR was 9 miles south of the accident site and reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 8. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was variable at 6 knots, and gusting to 10 knots. Per the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the Recommendation section, the student pilot asserted that, "I should have caught that there had been a wind shift between my touch and go and when I ground looped my aircraft. In preparation for landing a final check of the windsock needs to be done, every time. If there is a crosswind, a wing low approach would have helped avoid losing control of the aircraft when I touched down." The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2432H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2432H), registered now, S/N 18-7909184, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (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: 18-7909184 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 5214.63 - Engines: LYCOMING O320A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 2017 - Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Z40, Goose Bay, AK - Airport: Z40, Goose Bay, runway 08, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 114 total, 20 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PAED, 9 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 20180507004829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180507004829A), May 7, 2018: Piper PA-18-150, Goose Bay, AK, Substantial damage. On may 7, 2018, the student pilot was flying patterns with his instructor at Goose Bay. After multiple stop and go landings he dropped the instructor off for… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97223. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.