# NTSB SEA03LA099: Piper PA-18A-150, N5779D, Laurel, MT, June 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 2003, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Laurel, MT - Coordinates: 45.650001, -108.721946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6500&lon=-108.7219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA099 ## Probable cause Aircraft control was not maintained during the landing roll. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that she was practicing short field landings. The first wheel landing to a full stop was made within 300 feet. During the second landing roll, the pilot was again attempting to stop within 300 feet. The pilot stated that "I kept the tail too high in the wheel landin. (sic) I then reduced the power with the tail high and full brake at a low speed. The loss of air flow over the tail caused the slow forward roll over of the aircraft." The aircraft came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2003, about 1200 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-150, N5779D, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during the landing roll at a private airstrip near Laurel, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight last departed from Red Lodge, Montana, about 45 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that she was practicing short field landings on the grass airstrip. The first wheel landing to a full stop was made within 300 feet. The pilot took off to make one more short field landing. During the landing roll, the pilot was again attempting to stop within 300 feet. The pilot stated that "I kept the tail too high in the wheel landin. (sic) I then reduced the power with the tail high and full brake at a low speed. The loss of air flow over the tail caused the slow forward roll over of the aircraft." The aircraft came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the right side wing lift strut was bent and there was some visible damage to the right wing. The top of the vertical stabilizer was crushed downward. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5779D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5779D), registered now, S/N 18-5295, 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: 18-5295 - Airframe hours: 4333 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Barbara J. Powers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2003, 11 hours before - Departed: RED, Red Lodge, MT - Destination: Laurel, MT - Airport: runway 40, 1,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 15, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,700 total, 320 in this make and model, 1,390 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: BIL, 13 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 20030612011199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030612011199A), Jun 12, 2003: Piper PA18A150, Laurel, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that she was practicing short field landings on her private strip. During a wheel landing she applied the brakes. The aircraft nosed… ## Other investigations on N5779D (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 ANC20CA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA097), Sep 16, 2020: Piper PA18 (N5779D), Arctic Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a rock damaging the empennage. 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.