- Date
- March 7, 2019, 08:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place
- Wyndmere, ND
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N726Piper PA18
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190307000609A
- Case key
- 99089
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 exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an uncoordinated turn while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
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 reported that he was hired to conduct a predator control flight. He added that, after completing a right turn to the west, he initiated a climbing left turn to the east, and about 75 ft above ground level, the airplane "banked violently to the right and back to the left about two-three times," descended, and then impacted snow-covered ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The hiring agency check pilot reported that, during a postaccident flight review with the accident pilot, the pilot did not apply rudder inputs during turns, which resulted in uncoordinated turns, similar to what occurred in this accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was hired to make a predator control flight. After completing a right turn to the west, he initiated a climbing left turn to the east and about 75ft above the ground, the airplane "banked violently to the right and back to the left about two-three times", descended and impacted the snow-covered ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The hiring agency check pilot reported that during a post-accident flight review with the accident pilot, the pilot did not apply rudder inputs during turns, steep turns, and stall recovery.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N726
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8309021
- Built
- 1982
- Airframe hours
- 14,208.6
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 180 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Larsons Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Larsons Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2019
- Departed
- Oaks, ND
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Equipment
- Onboard weather
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 19, 2018
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 19,850 total · 14,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- -6 °F, dew point -9 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- KGWR, 24 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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 N726 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.