# NTSB LAX02LA062: Piper PA-18-150, N83517, Reno, NV, January 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 5, 2002, 10:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.667221, -119.871109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6672&lon=-119.8711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain directional control resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the tailwind. ## 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) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during routine pattern work. The pilot made one successful touch-and-go landing. About 300 feet from touchdown, he noticed he was experiencing a quartering left tailwind. He considered performing a wheel landing with partial flaps, but decided to make a full stall landing with full flaps. The touchdown was good, but during the landing roll the airplane began to veer to the right. He applied left rudder, but got no response. He then applied more left rudder and some left brake. The airplane immediately veered left at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway centerline. He reacted with right rudder and brake and the airplane turned to the right so that it was pointed 30 degrees to the right of the centerline. As the airplane reached the centerline, the airplane ground looped. The left axle broke and the left spar sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On January 5, 2002, about 1040 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N83517, ground looped at Reno-Tahoe Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Reno about 1015. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot said he made one successful touch-and-go landing. About 300 feet from touchdown, he noticed he was experiencing a quartering left tailwind. He considered performing a wheel landing with partial flaps, but decided to make a full stall landing with full flaps. The touchdown was good, but during the landing roll the airplane began to veer to the right. He applied left rudder, but got no response. He then applied more left rudder and some left brake. The airplane immediately veered left at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway centerline. He reacted with right rudder and brake and the airplane turned to the right so that it was pointed 30 degrees to the right of the centerline. As the airplane reached the centerline, the airplane ground looped. The left axle broke and the left spar sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83517](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83517), registered now, S/N 18-7709062 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7709062 - Airframe hours: 1197 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan G. Means - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 2001, 5 hours before - Departed: RNO, RENO, NV - Airport: RNO, Reno/Tahoe, runway 16L, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 25, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,309 total, 233 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: RNO ## 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 20020105000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020105000069A), Jan 5, 2002: Piper PA18150, Reno, NV, No damage. (-23) Pilot was in traffic pattern at Reno/Tahoe int'l airport to practice landing on runway 16L. On his second landing he stated that he thought he had a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54014. 369 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 369 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.