# NTSB GAA19CA584: Piper PA18, N6741L, New Meadows, ID, September 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2019, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: New Meadows, ID - Coordinates: 44.978054, -116.283889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9781&lon=-116.2839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA584 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100393/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100393 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA584 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a gusting, right quartering headwind, which resulted in a noseover. ## 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 · 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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); 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: 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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 flight instructor reported that, during a touch-and-go takeoff from a grass strip with the pilot receiving instruction on the controls, the airplane veered ­­­left, and the tail lifted. The instructor applied right rudder, but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during a touch and go takeoff from a grass strip, with the pilot receiving instruction on controls, the airplane veered ­­­left and the tail came up. The instructor applied right rudder, but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located 9 nautical miles away from the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 12 knots, gusting up to 18 knots. The flight instructor reported that the wind, about the time of the accident, was shifting from the west to southwest about 8 to 12 knots, gusting up to 12 knots. The airplane landed on runway 14. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6741L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6741L), registered now, S/N 18-7409121, built 1974 (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: 18-7409121 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 6561 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mountain Aviation Corp - Registered owner: Mountain Aviation Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2019 - Departed: MYL, McCall, ID - Destination: MYL, McCall, ID - Airport: 1U4, New Meadows, runway 14, 2,400 × 150 ft, gravel - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,100 total, 650 in this make and model, 14,480 as pilot in command, 196 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KMYL, 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 20190917014539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190917014539A), Sep 17, 2019: Piper PA-18-150, New Meadows, ID, Substantial damage. Tailwheel flight instruction was being conducted at the New Meadows Airport on a grass strip in New Meadows, Idaho. The intention was to conduct take off and… ## Other investigations on N6741L (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 SEA99LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA132), Jul 31, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N6741L), Big Creek, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's improper remedial action (continued takeoff). Contributing factors were the tree and control interference (inadvertent brake activation) by the passenger.. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100393. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480092&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.