- Date
- October 31, 2007, 17:30 local (Nov 1, 2007, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stockton, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N4153MPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20071031827489A
- Case key
- 67013
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a ditch while taxiing. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and the ditch.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while taxing the tailwheel-equipped airplane into position for takeoff from a private airstrip, the main landing gear struck a ditch stopping the aircraft's forward movement almost instantly. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed that the rudder and two lift struts were bent. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while taxing the tailwheel-equipped airplane into position for takeoff from a private airstrip, the main landing gear struck a ditch stopping the aircraft's forward movement almost instantly. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed that the rudder and two lift struts were bent. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft at the time of the accident. The pilot stated in the Recommendation (How could this accident/incident have been prevented?) section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) "better inspection of surface prior to taxiing."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4153M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1809042
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- David A. Kirsten
- Registered owner
- Kirsten Co LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PVT · Stockton, CA
- Airport
- NONE · Private Airstrip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Observed at
- PLT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.