# NTSB LAX00LA309: Piper PA-18-150, N91003, Scottsdale, AZ, August 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2000, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.529567, -111.890281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5296&lon=-111.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA309 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on the landing rollout. Also causal to the accident was his failure to retract flaps during the aborted landing attempt, which lead to a loss of lift and a hard landing followed by a ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,flap - not activated (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - ground - Hard landing, landing - aborted ## Analysis The airplane landed hard and ground looped. On the landing rollout the right wing and landing gear were lifted by wind. The airplane veered to the left. The pilot leveled the airplane and attempted to regain directional control with rudder input. He aborted the landing because he thought he was going to ground loop. He added full power but did not retract the flaps. Once airborne he maneuvered to avoid a taxi light and attempted to regain runway heading. The airplane lost lift and landed hard. The pilot noted no mechanical malfunctions with the flight control (rudder) or brake systems. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2000, at 1200 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N91003, veered off runway 21 and ground looped during the landing rollout at the Scottsdale Airport, Scottsdale, Arizona. The airplane, operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that had departed the Glendale Municipal Airport, Glendale, Arizona, at 1140. The flight was scheduled to terminate at Scottsdale. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he made a three-point landing with full flaps selected. On the landing rollout the right wing was lifted by the wind and the right landing gear lifted off the ground. The conventional geared airplane veered to the left. He leveled the wings, which put the right landing gear back on the runway. He attempted to regain runway heading with the rudder. He ". . . felt a ground loop coming on." He applied full power to fly out of the ground loop. While attempting to avoid a taxi light and regain runway heading, he failed to retract the flaps. The pilot stated that due to the low airspeed and the maneuver to avoid obstructions the airplane lost lift and sank. The airplane landed hard and ground looped. The pilot noted no mechanical malfunctions with the rudder or brake system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91003](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91003-2014-04-11), registration cancelled 2014-04-11, S/N 18-8109059, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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: 18-8109059 - Airframe hours: 1452 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Howard C. Fisk - Registered owner: Robert L. Fisk - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: GEU, GLENDALE, AZ - Destination: SDL - Airport: SDL, Scottsdale Airport, runway 21, 8,249 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,495 total, 460 in this make and model, 1,370 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 207 °F, dew point 129 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SDL ## 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 20000821006419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000821006419A), Aug 21, 2000: Piper PA18150, Scottsdale, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) After return flight to Scottsdale, AZ (sdl) from glendale, AZ. (Geu) pilot remained in pattern to practice take offs and landing. On second touch and go… ## Other investigations on N91003 (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 ANC85LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA064), Apr 18, 1985: Piper PA-18 (N91003), Kenai, AK, substantial damage 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.