# NTSB SEA02LA088: Piper PA-18-135, N9845Q, Lewiston, ID, May 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2002, 11:14 local (18:14 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.371665, -117.01667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3717&lon=-117.0167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing resulting in the aircraft departing the runway environment and the wing impacting the ground. Contributing factors were the dustdevil/whirlwind which the aircraft encountered and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - Nose down, landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing a stop-and-go landing on runway 08 in the Piper PA-18-135 when he encountered a whirlwind. The aircraft veered off the runway during which the left wingtip impacted the ground. The aircraft continued away from the runway coming to rest nose down in a ditch. Winds recorded at the accident airport before and after the accident ranged from zero to seven knots speed, and from the northeast quadrant. No gusts were reported during the morning/afternoon hours. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2002, approximately 1114 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135 airplane, N9845Q, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while executing a stop-and-go landing on runway 8 at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, Lewiston, Idaho. During the occurrence, the airplane's left wing hit the ground, the aircraft veered off the runway, the left tire separated from the wheel and the aircraft came to rest in a ditch on its nose. The pilot, who was the airplane's sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions and winds from 040 degrees magnetic at 4 knots, were reported at Lewiston at 1056. No flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 local personal flight, which originated from Lewiston earlier on the same morning. The pilot initially reported to the investigator that there was a left crosswind during the landing on runway 08 and he lost control of the aircraft during which the left wingtip struck the ground. The aircraft veered off the runway coming to rest in a ditch in a nose down attitude. The pilot later reported on his NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (attached) that he was practicing stop-and-go landings on runway 08 when he encountered a "crosswind" or "whirlwind" which blew the aircraft off the runway. He reported that he attempted to abort the landing but could not get enough airspeed. Winds throughout the morning and afternoon at Lewiston airport were reported as ranging from zero knots up to seven knots and the general direction was from the north and east quadrant (refer to ATTACHMENT WX). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9845Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9845Q), registered now, S/N 18-3550, built 1954 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3550 - Airframe hours: 3118 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kurt H. Blume - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2001, 3 hours before - Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Airport: LWS, Lewiston-Nez Perce County, runway 08, 6,512 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 12, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 295 total, 120 in this make and model, 295 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: LWS ## 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 20020527013039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020527013039A), May 27, 2002: Piper PA18, Lewiston, ID, No damage. (-23) N9845Q, a Piper super cub received substantial damage on may 27, 2002. Mr. Kurt blume was practicing touch and go landings at the Lewiston, Idaho airport… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54810. 341 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Attachment WX (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Attachment%20WX-Master.PDF 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.