- Date
- October 27, 2018, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Denver, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4500WPiper PA18
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20181027020999A
- Case key
- 98583
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusting wind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot under instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with 26-inch bush wheels reported that, during the approach, he saw indications of a headwind. He added that, when the airplane touched down on the main wheels, he noticed that the windsock had shifted and was indicating a direct left crosswind. Just before the tailwheel touched down, the left wing lifted, and he slowly added power to abort the landing. However, the airplane veered left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the elevator. The airport's automated surface observing system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 25 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot under instruction was in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with 26-inch bush wheels and reported that he observed indications of a head wind during the approach to the asphalt runway. He asserted that when the airplane touched down on the mains, he noticed that the windsock had shifted indicating a direct left crosswind. Just before the tailwheel touched down, the left wing lifted, and he slowly added power to abort the landing. However, the airplane veered to the left and the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the elevator. The automated surface observing system at the airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 25 knots and gusting to 30 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4500W
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8009019
- Built
- 1980
- Airframe hours
- 3,725.61
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 15, 2019
- Departed
- APA · Denver, CO
- Destination
- APA · Denver, CO
- Airport
- APA · Centennial, runway 28, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 24, 2019
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 390 total · 25 in this make and model · 290 as pilot in command
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 28, 2019
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,527.5 total · 2.2 in this make and model · 1,492 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KAPA
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4500W · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.