# NTSB LAX05LA315: Piper PA-18-150, N5756Y, Fall River Mill, CA, September 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2005, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Fall River Mill, CA - Coordinates: 41.020278, -121.433334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0203&lon=-121.4333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62551/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA315 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain runway alignment during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot lost directional control during the landing flare, and the airplane impacted flat level terrain east of the runway. Upon arrival to the airport he entered the pattern for runway 2. He said he encountered an "extreme" left crosswind condition and the airplane was blown off the runway. There was no weather reporting station at the airport; however, the closest facility was reporting winds from 350 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot said the winds were from 340 degrees at 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 2005, about 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N5756Y, veered off the runway and impacted flat level terrain at Fall River Mills Airport (O89), Fall River Mills, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed the King City, California, airport at an undetermined time. A refueling stop was made at Red Bluff Municipal Airport, Red Bluff, California. The flight departed Red Bluff about 1200, and was destined for O89. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported the accident occurred during landing. Upon arrival at the airport he entered the pattern for left traffic for runway 2. He attempted to land and lost directional control after encountering an "extreme" left crosswind. The aircraft came to rest approximately 200 feet east of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5756Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5756Y), registered now, S/N 18-8325 (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: 18-8325 - Airframe hours: 1439.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark S. Lamascus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005, 21.7 hours before - Departed: RBL, Red Bluff, CA - Destination: O89, Fall River Mill, CA - Airport: O89, Fall River Mills, runway 2, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 222 total, 148 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: AAT, 48 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 20050923025839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050923025839A), Sep 23, 2005: Piper PA18150, Fall River Mill, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot and passenger departed king city, CA for Fall River Mills, CA on 9/23/05. When approaching to land at Fall River Mills they noticed a crosswind but… ## Other investigations on N5756Y (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 OAK66D0113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK66D0113), Oct 16, 1965: Piper PA-18 (N5756Y), Grizzly Is, CA, 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.