# NTSB SEA06CA025: Piper PA-18-150, N2584S, Prineville, OR, December 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 9, 2005, 09:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Prineville, OR - Coordinates: 44.286945, -120.903892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2869&lon=-120.9039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62930/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA025 ## Probable cause Aircraft control not maintained by the private pilot during the initial takeoff climb, and the improper remedial action by the flight instructor. A factor was the wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The non-current private pilot, who occupied the front seat, initiated the takeoff with the flight instructor in the rear seat. While in a steep climb at an altitude of about 30 feet agl, a gust of wind lifted the left wing, which caused the airplane to roll over to the right. After the front seat pilot, at the command of the flight instructor, closed the throttle, the airplane impacted the side of the runway in a nose down, wings level attitude, resulting in a propeller strike and the collapse of both main landing gear. There were no anomalies reported with the airplane, which would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative On December 9, 2005, approximately 0935 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150 single-engine airplane, N2584S, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain following a loss of control during takeoff-initial climb, at the Prineville Airport (S39), Prineville, Oregon. The private pilot, who occupied the front seat, and the certified flight instructor who occupied the rear seat, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), and according to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the private pilot, who did not possess a current flight review but was tailwheel qualified, reported that he had just purchased the airplane and planned to ferry it from S39 to Las Vegas, Nevada, with the assistance of the flight instructor. The private pilot stated that prior to departure the aircraft was preflighted and an engine runup was completed, with no anomalies noted. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane "went straight, [the] tail came up, and the [airplane] began climbing." The private pilot reported that he thought the airplane was about 30 feet in the air when the rear seated flight instructor told him to "cut the throttle," which he did. The private pilot stated, "...the nose came over and the plane angled slightly to the right and the left wing was slightly high. I advanced the throttle and tried to put in left rudder. The plane hit the edge of the runway wings level on the main gear. The gear collapsed." The private pilot reported that he detected no anomalies with the airplane during the flight. In a written report submitted to the IIC, the rear seated flight instructor reported that the private pilot took off and pulled the aircraft up into a nose high attitude. The pilot stated that at an altitude of about 30 feet the wind picked up the left wing and the aircraft rolled over to the right, coming down hard on the right landing gear. The flight instructor reported, "It happened so fast that I did not have a chance to react." The flight instructor also reported to a Senior NTSB investigator that prior to the flight he was aware that the private pilot did not possess a current flight review, and that concurrent with the multiple leg cross-country flight, he would administer a flight review to the private pilot. The flight instructor reported no anomalies with the airplane, which would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2584S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2584S), registered now, S/N 18-7909162 (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: 18-7909162 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael J. Adair - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: S39, Prineville, OR - Destination: BNO, Burns, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: S39, Prineville Airport, runway 28 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 258 total, 3 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 59; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3; flight hours: 8,300 total, 25 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20051209028279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051209028279A), Dec 9, 2005: Piper PA18150, Prineville, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) The private pilot/new aircraft owner ^priva^, performed a normal takeoff on runway 28 at the Prineville, OR (S39) airport on a relocation flight to las… 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.