# NTSB LAX97LA229: Piper PA-18-150, N7764D, Page, AZ, July 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 1997, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.679847, -111.410957 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6798&lon=-111.4110&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29825 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29825/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA229 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind gusts and his failure 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 - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear strut - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was drifting left toward the runway turnoff following a successful landing on runway 33. The winds were reported from 040 at 8 knots, with occasional gusts to 12 knots. As the aircraft neared the turnoff, it suddenly and sharply ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft was inspected by an FAA inspector, who found no evidence of fatigue or corrosion. The airplane was equipped with oversize tundra tires. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 1997, at 1600 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N7764D, ground looped and collapsed one main landing gear while taxiing at the Page, Arizona, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal cross-country flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Hurricane, Utah, on the day of the accident at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was drifting left toward the runway turnoff following a successful landing on runway 33. The winds were reported from 040 at 8 knots, with occasional gusts to 12 knots. As the aircraft neared the turnoff, it suddenly and sharply ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft was moved to Spanish Fork Flying Service in Flying Fork, Utah, for repairs. The aircraft was inspected at the request of the NTSB by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Salt Lake City Flight Standards District Office. According to the FAA inspector, no evidence of fatigue or corrosion were noted visually. The airplane was equipped with oversize tundra tires. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7764D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7764D), registered now, S/N 18-5944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5994 - Airframe hours: 2858 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James T. Judd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 1997, 5 hours before - Departed: 1L8, HURRICANE, UT - Destination: PGA - Airport: PGA, Page, runway 33, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 4,589 total, 536 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19970701016739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970701016739A), Jul 1, 1997: Piper PA18150, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. Weather cocked into gusty crosswind landing. Collapsed left main gear. ## Other investigations on N7764D (2) 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 WPR26LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA244), Jun 23, 2026: Piper PA-18A (N7764D), Minden, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. - [NTSB UNK64X3323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3323), Aug 10, 1964: Piper PA-18A (N7764D), Loomis, NE, destroyed 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.