# NTSB LAX99TA043: Piper PA-18-150, N82325, Imperial, CA, December 4, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1998, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Imperial, CA
- Coordinates: 32.860015, -115.650222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8600&lon=-115.6502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99TA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45433/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99TA043

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions while taxiing from landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, taxi
  - weather condition - gusts
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he landed on runway 26, and as he turned onto the taxiway, a wind gust got under the upwind wing.  The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.  The airport weather facility reported that the winds were from 250 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots at the time of the accident.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On December 4, 1998, at 0930 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N82325, encountered a wind gust while taxiing and nosed over at the Imperial County, California, airport.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The public-use aircraft was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the U.S. Department of Justice/Border Patrol.  The local flight originated at the Imperial Airport at 0510 and was terminating at the time of the accident.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he landed on runway 26.  As he turned onto the taxiway, a wind gust got under the upwind wing and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.  The airport weather facility reported that the winds were from 250 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots at the time of the accident.  The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82325](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82325), registered now, S/N 18-7709143, built 1977 (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: 18-7709143
- Airframe hours: 11466
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: U.S. Border Patrol Ins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 4, 1998, 91 hours before
- Departed: IPL
- Airport: IPL, Imperial County, runway 26, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,642 total, 1,540 in this make and model, 2,478 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 118 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19981204032829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981204032829A), Dec 4, 1998: Piper PA18150, Imperial, CA, Substantial damage. U.S. Border patrol (ins) public use acft flipped over on landing. (.4) on December 4, 1998, at 0930 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N82325,…

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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