# NTSB SEA06CA061: Piper PA-18, N1991A, Saint Paul, OR, March 5, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2006, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Saint Paul, OR
- Coordinates: 45.222221, -123.050003
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2222&lon=-123.0500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63312/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA061

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path on final approach to landing resulting in a nose over.  A factor was the loose gravel/sandy condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

During the approach to the gravel bar, the pilot misjudged his descent path to the touchdown zone, resulting in the main wheels contacting the water and soft sand just short of the gravel bar.  The airplane's rudder was substantially damaged as a result of the aircraft nosing over and coming to rest in an inverted position.

## Factual narrative

On March 5, 2006, approximately 1130 Pacific standard time, a single-engine Piper PA-18-135 airplane, N1991A, sustained substantial damage after landing short of a gravel bar runway near Saint Paul, Oregon.  The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual.  The commercial pilot and his sole passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed.  The flight departed the Flying M Airport, Yamhill, Oregon, at 1100.

According to a written report submitted to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, dated March 12, 2006, the pilot stated that while landing on a gravel bar the airplane's wheels contacted the water and soft sand just short of the gravel bar, which caused the airplane to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position.  The pilot reported that the rudder was substantially damaged and that the accident could have been prevented if he had extended his touchdown zone far enough ahead to ensure solid footing for his tires.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1991A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1991A), registered now, S/N 18-1815, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-1815
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Laurence A. Holman
- Registered owner: Laurence A. Holman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: OR05, Yamhill, OR
- Destination: Saint Paul, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2; flight hours: 4,319 total, 2,116 in this make and model

## 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 20060305003529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060305003529A), Mar 5, 2006: Piper PA18135, St Paul, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted to land the aircraft on a sandbar in the willamette river, was too short, wheels contacted the water, and the aircraft flipped over on…

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.