# NTSB NYC00LA013: Piper PA-18-135, N9964Q, Hoffmeister, NY, October 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 1999, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Hoffmeister, NY - Coordinates: 43.399063, -74.720466 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3991&lon=-74.7205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47592 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47592/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot failure to maintain directional control while step-taxiing. A factor in the accident was gusty winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, taxi - from landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The pilot was trapping otters for a relocation program, and needed to check the traps daily. On the day of the accident he departed a public lake near Forestport, New York, and flew to a series of remote locations. The accident occurred at the last one. The approach and landing to the accident location were normal, but while step-taxing, the airplane encountered a gust of wind, and the pilot 'lost control.' The airplane yawed right towards the wind, and the left wingtip impacted the water. At the completion of the accident sequence, the airplane was upright, and on shore. The pilot exited the airplane uninjured, and then hiked 20 miles back to civilization. The pilot had landed at the accident location 25 to 30 time. A review of topographical maps for the area indicated the body of water was approximately 1,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. Winds were southwest at 10 mph gusting to 20 mph. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 1999, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135 on floats, N9964Q, was substantially damaged while step-taxing after landing on a remote body of water in the Adirondack Mountains near Hoffmeister, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight that departed Forestport, New York. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to the pilot, he was trapping otters for a relocation program, and need to check his traps daily. On the day of the accident he departed a public lake near Forestport, New York, and flew to a series of remote locations, with the accident occurring at the last one. The approach and landing to the accident location were normal, but while step-taxing, the airplane encountered a gust of wind, and the pilot "lost control." The airplane yawed right towards the wind, and the left wingtip impacted the water. At the completion of the accident sequence, the airplane was upright, and on shore. The pilot exited the airplane uninjured, and then hiked 20 miles back to civilization. The pilot added that the winds were southwest at 10 mph gusting to 20 mph, and that he had landed there 25 to 30 times before. A review of topographical maps for the area indicated the body of water was approximately 1,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9964Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9964Q), registered now, S/N 18-3956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3956 - Airframe hours: 2580 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nicholas Verschneider - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1999, 56 hours before - Departed: NONE, FORESTPORT, NY - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F - 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 19991008040659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991008040659A), Oct 8, 1999: Piper PA18135, Morehouse, NY, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated that on landing in a confined area, as the airplane was coming off step, a gust of wind caught the right wing causing left wingtip to… 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.