# NTSB GAA19CA158: Piper PA18, N726, Wyndmere, ND, March 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2019, 08:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Wyndmere, ND - Coordinates: 46.459167, -97.185279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4592&lon=-97.1853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99089/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99089 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA158 ## 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 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 · 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: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N726), registered now, S/N 18-8309021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (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: 18-8309021 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 14208.6 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20190307000609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190307000609A), Mar 7, 2019: Piper PA-18-150, Mcleod, ND, Substantial damage. The Piper PA-18-150 super cub crashed in a farmer?s field east of lisbon, ND while conducting coyote depredation operations under contract to the usda. The… ## Other investigations on N726 (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN90TL#01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90TL%2301), Nov 8, 1989: Piper PA-18-150 (N726), Alamagordo, NM, destroyed ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99089. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 986 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - USDA Check Airman (item 4, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20USDA%20Check%20Airman-Master.PDF - Crewmember Statement (item 5, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crewmember%20Statement-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.