# NTSB SEA04LA098: Piper PA-18-150, N82172, Columbus, MT, June 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2004, 19:20 local (Jun 5, 2004, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Columbus, MT - Coordinates: 45.616664, -109.243331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6167&lon=-109.2433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA098 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing and subsequent go-around. Inadequate compensation for the gusting winds and an airport hangar were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - airport facility (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that thunderstorms and showers were moving through the area at the time with a strong crosswind present. The pilot flew around the area for about 30 minutes then returned for landing. The pilot attempted one landing to runway 28 with no flaps extended, but because of too high an airspeed, initiated a go-around. During the second attempt with one notch of flaps extended, the aircraft touched down, and the pilot was maintaining directional control until the tail touched down and a strong gust of wind from the left hit the aircraft. The pilot was having difficulty maintaining directional control so he increased power to go-around. The engine momentarily hesitated and the aircraft began to travel to the right side, heading off the runway surface at about a 45 degree angle toward airport hangars. The aircraft traveled through the median and taxiway ramp before becoming airborne. Just prior to colliding with the first hangar, the pilot banked the airplane to the left, however, the right wing clipped the corner of the hangar. The aircraft continued on for another about 50 yards before colliding into the roof of a second hangar. Witnesses reported that the strong gusting wind was out of the south at about 15 to 20 knots with thunderstorms in the area ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2004, about 1920 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N82172, registered to a private individual and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with an airport hangar during a go-around at the Columbus Airport, Columbus, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Pryor, Montana, about 1830. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that thunderstorms and showers were moving through the area at the time with a strong crosswind present. The pilot flew around the area for about 30 minutes then returned for landing. The pilot attempted one landing to runway 28 with no flaps extended, but because of too high an airspeed, initiated a go-around. During the second attempt with one notch of flaps extended, the aircraft touched down, and the pilot was maintaining directional control until the tail touched down and a strong gust of wind from the left hit the aircraft. The pilot was having difficulty maintaining directional control so he increased power to go-around. The engine momentarily hesitated and the aircraft began to travel to the right side, heading off the runway surface at about a 45 degree angle toward airport hangars. The aircraft traveled through the median and taxiway ramp before becoming airborne. Just prior to colliding with the first hangar, the pilot banked the airplane to the left, however, the right wing clipped the corner of the hangar. The aircraft continued on for another about 50 yards before colliding into the roof of a second hangar. Witnesses reported that the strong gusting wind was out of the south at about 15 to 20 knots with thunderstorms in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82172](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82172), registered now, S/N 18-7909064, built 1979 (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: 18-7909064 - Airframe hours: 702 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Randall L. Braten - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2004, 74 hours before - Departed: Pryor, MT - Destination: 6S3, Columbus, MT - Airport: 6S3, Columbus, runway 28, 3,814 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, expired; last flight review October 20, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,652 total, 705 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: BIL, 31 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 20040604014379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040604014379A), Jun 4, 2004: Piper PA18150, Columbus, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Second attempt at landing in Columbus (6S3), Montana, with 10 degrees of flaps. Touched down in crosswind conditions. Crosswind resulted in veering of… 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.