# NTSB NYC03LA068: Piper PA-18, N276T, Mineral, VA, March 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 2003, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Mineral, VA - Coordinates: 37.966667, -77.76361 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9667&lon=-77.7636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56640/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA068 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, who was receiving floatplane instruction, the flight proceeded to the lake to conduct on-water maneuvers. After landing on the lake several times, the flight instructor requested that the pilot perform a few step taxis. During one of the taxis, as the floatplane was being turned to the right, the pilot stated, "I don't think we are going to make it." The instructor replied, "Put in more rudder." The pilot informed the instructor that he already had applied full right rudder, and added full power in an attempt to "pull us through the turn." As the floatplane neared the shoreline, the instructor decreased the power, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane turned abruptly to the left, and came to rest along the shoreline. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 2003, at 1000 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-18 floatplane, N276T, was substantially damaged while taxiing on Lake Anna, near Mineral, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot and certified flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, who was receiving floatplane instruction, the flight had originated from Warrenton, Virginia, and proceeded to Lake Anna, to conduct on-water maneuvers. After landing on the lake several times, the flight instructor requested that the pilot perform a few step taxis. During one of the taxis, as the floatplane was being turned to the right, the pilot stated, "I don't think we are going to make it." The instructor replied, "Put in more rudder." The pilot informed the instructor that he already had applied full right rudder, and added full power in an attempt to "pull us through the turn." As the floatplane neared the shoreline, the instructor decreased the power, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane turned abruptly to the left, and came to rest along the shoreline. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage after the accident. He observed substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor, who also owned the floatplane, failed to return the pilot operator report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, sent to him on three different occasions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N276T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N276T), registered now, S/N 18-2390 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2390 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Don J. Rhynalds - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W66, Warrenton, VA - Destination: NONE, Lake Anna, VA - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 41,000 total - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 380 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LKU, 5 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 20030312035239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030312035239A), Mar 12, 2003: Piper PA18, Mineral, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor and student were practicing water taxiing when they taxied too close to the shoreline. The left wing impacted a tree causing the aircraft 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.