# NTSB MIA00LA250: Piper PA-18-105, N239NA, Cullman, AL, August 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2000, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Cullman, AL - Coordinates: 34.170578, -86.830192 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1706&lon=-86.8302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50101/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA250 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground swerve, and the aircraft exiting the runway and incurring substantial damage when it collided with a dirt bank. ## 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, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the landing rollout she applied left rudder but the airplane veered to the left and right again. She further stated that she then applied full power to attempt to make the airplane fly, and affect a go-around, but it veered even more, and exited the runway into a ditch, and collided with the dirt bank at full power. The pilot also said that prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical malfunction or failure to the aircraft or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2000, about 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N239NA, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ran off the runway during a touch-and-go landing at Cullman, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated the same day, about 1720. The pilot stated that she stayed in the traffic pattern to perform one landing, and during the landing the approach was perfect, but after both wheels were on the runway, the airplane veered to the right. She said that she attempted to counteract the movement to the right by stepping on the left rudder, but the airplane went to the left and then the right again. She said that she then applied full power, thinking that she could make it fly, but with the application of full power the airplane's speed increased, and it continued to veer to the right. According to the pilot, the airplane exited the runway and hit the bank, at full power, incurring substantial damage. The pilot also said that prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical malfunction or failure to the aircraft or any of its systems. According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident airplane, the student had been receiving dual flight instruction in the airplane and she and her instructor had stayed in the traffic pattern in order to practice touch-and-go landings. The inspector further stated that after performing some landings together, the instructor exited the aircraft, and the student proceeded on her first solo flight in that aircraft. The inspector said that during the solo landing the student mismanaged the controls and the aircraft departed the runway with power still applied. It crossed the grass area between the runway and taxiway, went over the taxiway and into a ditch, incurring substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: N239NA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-105 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2384 - Airframe hours: 4577 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: James D. Robertson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1999, 80 hours before - Departed: 3A1 - Airport: 3A1, Folsom Field, runway 20, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 245 total, 61 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HSV, 24 nm away ## 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 20000826015209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000826015209A), Aug 26, 2000: Piper PA18105, Cullman, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 8/26/00, MS. Robertson was flying N239NA, a super cub Piper PA-18, for her first tailwheel solo flight. After an uneventful takeoff and normal traffic… 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.