# NTSB LAX77DUQ38: Piper PA-18, N9266P, Pearblossom, CA, July 9, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1977
- Place: Pearblossom, CA · PEARBLOSSOM, CA
- Location: 34.5064° N, 117.9098° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pearblossom, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5064&lon=-117.9098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146559
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77DUQ38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77DUQ38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1330   77/7/9  NR.PEARBLOSSOM,CA     PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 583
        TIME - 1400                    N9266P              PX-  0  0  0  TOWING GLIDERS            TOTAL HOURS, 94 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CRYSTALAIRE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         PEARBLOSSOM,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           TAXI: FROM LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - LOCAL WHIRLWIND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           100                                                     270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- DUST DEVIL FLIPPED PA-18 OVER AS ACFT WAS TAXYING TO GLIDER TOW LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9266P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9266P-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 18-8902, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Crystalaire

## 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 19770709017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770709017979A), Jul 9, 1977: Piper PA18150, Pearblossom, CA, Substantial damage. Dust devil flipped PA-18 over as acft was taxying to glider tow line.

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.
