# NTSB SEA08CA039: Piper PA-18A-135, N3250B, Yelm, WA, November 24, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 24, 2007, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Yelm, WA
- Coordinates: 46.926944, -122.465553
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9269&lon=-122.4656&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Seattle, Washington FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67172
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67172/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA039

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during landing roll.  Contributing factors were the rough/uneven terrain and log.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - object - other (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - sand bar

## Analysis

While landing on a gravel river bar in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in the aircraft impacting a log located adjacent to the intended landing area which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.  A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed no mechanical anomalies.

## Factual narrative

While landing on a gravel river bar in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in the aircraft impacting a log located adjacent to the intended landing area which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.  A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed no mechanical anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3250B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3250B), registered now, S/N 18-3265, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-135) (registry code 7101822) (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: 18-3265
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-C2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2006, 44.7 hours before
- Departed: PLU, Puyallup, WA
- Destination: Yelm, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 228 total, 54 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 20071124829149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071124829149A), Nov 24, 2007: Piper PA18A135, Yelm, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] was landing on a gravel bar next to the nisqually river near Yelm, WA. The pilot hit a log and lost directional control…

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.

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