# NTSB SEA00LA114: Piper PA-18A-150, N6775B, Ephrata, WA, June 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2000, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Ephrata, WA - Coordinates: 47.270877, -119.589813 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2709&lon=-119.5898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49527/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. ## 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) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot-in-command, a commercial pilot, was getting checked out on a glider club tow plane by the glider club's 'check out pilot', a Canadian citizen with a Canadian glider pilot license and Canadian private pilot certificate valid for single-engine land airplanes (but whose U.S. private pilot certificate carried only a glider rating.) The pilots reported that about 100 feet into the landing roll from a steep approach (which the 'check out' pilot reported was a typical tow plane approach profile due to tow rope considerations), which began smoothly, the plane's left wing lifted and the plane began to veer to the right. The pilot-in-command reported that he unsuccessfully attempted to correct the motion with up to full left rudder, and both pilots reported that the 'check out' pilot applied power, but the plane continued up to about 90 degrees to the right of the runway heading, the plane's left gear broke, and the airplane's left wing contacted the ground. The operator's NTSB accident report indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2000, a Piper PA-18A-150, N6775B, registered to Seattle Glider Council, Inc. of Ephrata, Washington, was substantially damaged in a loss of control and subsequent main landing gear collapse on landing rollout at Ephrata, Washington. The commercial pilot-in-command and a private pilot aboard the aircraft (a Canadian citizen who held a Canadian glider pilot license and a Canadian private pilot license for single-engine land airplanes, but whose U.S. private pilot certificate carried only a glider rating) were not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 local instructional flight from Ephrata. The accident airplane was used as a glider tow plane by the Seattle Glider Council. The pilot-in-command reported that on the accident flight, he was getting checked out on the aircraft by the private pilot, whom the pilot-in-command reported was the glider club's "check out pilot". He stated: ...The approach and landing went smoothly. About 100 feet into the roll-out the left wing lifted, so I applied left aileron to bring it down. With that the aircraft began to veer to the left so I corrected with a small amount of right rudder. Then the aircraft began to go right so I applied some left rudder. That did not correct the problem so I applied more left rudder, until it was full left rudder still with no response. I moved for the left brake. By this time the aircraft was close to 90 degrees turned on the runway. At that time [the private pilot] applied a large amount of power and the airplane whipped to the right, the left gear broke and the left wing hit the ground. The private pilot (the club "check out" pilot) reported: ...I asked [the pilot-in-command] to fly a pattern for runway 02 and using a steep approach as we normally use while towing gliders because of the two hundred foot tow rope in order to keep the tow rope a safe distance from the threshold. The landing was smooth but while rolling straight ahead at a decreased speed, the left wing came up and the airplane started to turn slightly to the right. I applied power to take over the controls but the rate of turn to the right increased and [I] realized that it would not be possible to recover. At that time I then retarded the throttle and the airplane came to a stop. The left wing was broken and the left wing tip was on the ground.... The operator's accident report to the NTSB indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. The landing on which the accident occurred was on runway 2, a 6,700- by 150-foot asphalt runway equipped with visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights. Winds were reported from 020 degrees true at 7 knots in the 0850 Ephrata METAR observation, and from 070 degrees true at 7 knots in the 0950 Ephrata METAR observation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6775B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6775B), registered now, S/N 18-5008, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5008 - Airframe hours: 5280 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Seattle Glider Council Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2000, 55 hours before - Departed: EPH - Airport: EPH, Ephrata Muni, runway 2, 6,700 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 360 total, 1 in this make and model, 254 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EPH ## 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 20000625012649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000625012649A), Jun 25, 2000: Piper PA18A150, Ephrata, WA, No damage. (-23) Pilot lost control during landing and ground looped aircraft. ## Other investigations on N6775B (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA85LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA116), May 18, 1984: Piper PA-18A-150 (N6775B), Ephrata, WA, substantial damage 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.