# NTSB LAX03LA115: Piper PA-18-135, N2474Z, Chandler, AZ, March 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2003, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.266666, -111.800003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2667&lon=-111.8000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56666/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA115 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and his failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor is the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The tail-wheel equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when the pilot ground looped it during the landing roll. The student pilot flared high and touched down hard on the main wheels and bounced back into the air. The pilot attempted to recover by lowering the nose and executing a three-point landing. The airplane touched down again with the nose pointing to the left of the runway centerline. Unable to return the airplane back to runway heading, the pilot continued to the left and departed the runway into a dirt area. The airplane ground looped, with the right wing tip and right elevator making contact with the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2003, about 1640 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-135, N2474Z, ground looped during the landing roll at Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and Chandler Air Service was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Chandler about 1625. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was attempting to perform practice touch-and-go takeoff and landings in the tail-wheel equipped airplane. During the first attempt, he configured the airplane for a normal tail-wheel landing and flared about 25 to 30 feet above ground level (agl). Upon touchdown, the airplane hit the runway hard and bounced back into the air. He attempted to recover by lowering the nose and executing a three-point landing. The airplane touched down again with the nose pointing to the left of runway centerline. Unable to return the airplane back to runway heading, the pilot continued to the left and departed off the runway into a dirt area. The airplane ground looped, and the right wing tip and right elevator made contact with the ground. The airplane came to rest upright with the engine running. The pilot uneventfully taxied back to the tie down area. The damage the airplane incurred from the accident included a bent right elevator tip, a bent right wingtip, and a bend in the rear wing spar. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2474Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2474Z), registered now, S/N 18-3592, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d2) (registry code 42090, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3592 - Airframe hours: 2413 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chandler Air Service, Inc., doing business as Chandler Air Service - Registered owner: Marcus B. Paine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 31, 2002, 85 hours before - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal Airport, runway 04R, 4,850 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SDL, 22 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 20030321004699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030321004699A), Mar 21, 2003: Piper PA18135, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was attempting first landing during student solo flight. During landing roll the pilot lost control and the aircraft exited the left side… 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.