# NTSB SEA02LA032: Piper PA-18-150, N4379Z, Eagle Point, OR, January 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 2002, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Eagle Point, OR - Coordinates: 42.459575, -122.660064 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4596&lon=-122.6601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54093/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54093 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot inadvertently failed to retract the landing gear for the water landing and the aircraft nosed over. ## Analysis The pilot reported that after takeoff from a private airstrip in the amphibian aircraft, he forgot to retract the landing gear before touching down on the river. The bow of the floats dug into the water and the aircraft nosed over. After the aircraft was recovered, it was noted that the nose wheels on the bow of the floats were broken off. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 2002, about 1305 Pacific standard time, an amphibian Piper PA-18-150, N4379Z, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight, nosed over on the Rogue River near Eagle Point, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Shady Cove, Oregon, about five minutes before the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he took off from a private airstrip for a local flight in the area. During the flight, the pilot set-up for a landing on the Rogue River. Upon touchdown, the bow of the floats dug into the water and the aircraft nosed over. After the aircraft was recovered, it was noted that the nose wheels on the bow of the floats were broken off. The pilot reported that, "...I evidently did not retract my landing gear." There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - wheels down landing in water - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4379Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4379Z), registered now, S/N 18-8701, built 1968 (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: 18-8701 - Airframe hours: 3034 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary S. Amidon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2001, 109 hours before - Departed: Shady Cove, OR - Destination: Eagle Point, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 28, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 3,100 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F ## 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 20020127000569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020127000569A), Jan 27, 2002: Piper PA18150, White City, OR, No damage. (.19) On January 27, 2002, about 1250 pacific standard time, an amphibian Piper PA-18-150, N4379Z, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot as a 14… ## Other investigations on N4379Z (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA85FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA086), Apr 7, 1985: Piper PA-18-150 (N4379Z), Sunnyside, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54093. 262 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.