# NTSB LAX95LA317: Piper PA-18-150, N91008, Yuma, AZ, August 30, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1995, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Yuma, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.679767, -114.660537 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6798&lon=-114.6605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29205
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA317
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29205/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA317

## Probable cause

the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and the failure of both pilots to maintain directional control.

## 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, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT OWNER STATED THAT HE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT THAT MORNING AND HIRED A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO ACCOMPANY HIM BACK TO HIS HOME AIRPORT BECAUSE HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID THE INSTRUCTOR WAS TALKING HIM THROUGH A LANDING ON RUNWAY 17 AND SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN VEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR APPLIED A LEFT RUDDER CORRECTION AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 1995, at 1530 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N91008, ground looped on landing at Yuma, Arizona.  The aircraft was owned and operated by the private pilot, who purchased the aircraft that morning.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage.  Neither the private pilot nor the commercial pilot/flight instructor onboard were injured.  The flight originated at Tucson, Arizona, on the day of the accident at 1200 as a combined cross-country delivery and dual instructional flight for the new owner.

In a telephone interview, the new owner stated that he took delivery of the aircraft that morning and hired a flight instructor to accompany him back to his home airport because he had no experience in conventional gear aircraft.  The pilot said the instructor was talking him through a landing on runway 17 and shortly after touchdown the aircraft began veering to the right.  The instructor applied a left rudder correction and the aircraft ground looped to the left.  The aircraft incurred structural damage to the right wing spar.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N91008 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8109061
- Airframe hours: 686
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael K. Macintosh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1994, 86 hours before
- Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Destination: YUM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: YUM, Yuma International, runway 17, 5,710 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 431 total, 3 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: YUM

## 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 19950830027129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950830027129A), Aug 30, 1995: Piper PA18150, Yuma, AZ, Substantial damage. First dual in newly purchased aircraft and no tail dragger time. Veered landing. CFI took over. Ground looped.

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.

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