# NTSB LAX97LA329: Piper PA-18-150, N82259, Hawthorne, NV, September 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1997, 17:05 local (Sep 24, 1997, 00:05 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, NV - Coordinates: 38.479919, -118.640541 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4799&lon=-118.6405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA329 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind condition and his subsequent 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 - dust devil/whirlwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that he made a radio call on the CTAF frequency for airport advisories, but that there was no response. He overflew the airport and observed the windsock showing no wind. He entered left traffic for runway 10. As the aircraft slowed after touchdown, a gust of wind or dust devil caused the aircraft to turn radically to the right. The aircraft started to ground loop and he added full power to recover. The aircraft departed the runway on a stable heading and collided with a fence. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 1997, at 1705 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N82259, veered off runway 10, contacted a chain link fence with the landing gear and came to rest inverted while landing at the Hawthorne, Nevada, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the co-owner/pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from the Jackpot, Nevada, airport at 1400 on the day of the accident. The pilot reported that he attempted a radio call on the Hawthorne CTAF frequency for airport advisories, but that there was no response. He stated that he overflew the airport and observed the windsock showing no wind. He entered left traffic for runway 10. The pilot reported that as the aircraft slowed after touchdown, a gust of wind or dust devil caused the aircraft to turn radically to the right. The aircraft started to ground loop and he added full power to recover from the ground loop. The aircraft departed the runway on a "stable heading and clipped [a] short fence." He reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82259](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82259), registered now, S/N 18-7909084, built 1979 (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: 18-7909084 - Airframe hours: 580 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric D. Pedersen - Registered owner: Signal Alarm Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1997, 24 hours before - Departed: 06U, JACKPOT, NV - Destination: HTH - Airport: HTH, Hawthorne Muni, runway 10, 4,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 255 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F ## 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 19970924028209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970924028209A), Sep 24, 1997: Piper PA18150, Hawthorne, NV, Substantial damage. Crashed on landing, other circumstances are unknown. (.4)on September 23, 1997, at 1705 hours pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N82259, veered off… 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.