# NTSB SEA93GA049: Piper PA-18-135, N9841Q, Council, ID, January 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1993, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Council, ID
- Coordinates: 44.890125, -116.539398 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8901&lon=-116.5394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42942
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93GA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42942/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93GA049

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE LOW PASS. THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION WERE FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - notams - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT, HE NOTED THAT THE RUNWAY HAD NOT BEEN RECENTLY PLOWED OF SNOW. A LOW PASS TO THE NORTH OVER THE RUNWAY WAS MADE TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE DEPTH OF THE SNOW. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE AROUND AND APPROACHED THE RUNWAY TO THE SOUTH TO MAKE A RUN ON THE RUNWAY AND 'DRAG' THE WHEELS ON THE SNOW. THE WHEELS CONTACTED THE SNOW JUST PAST MID FIELD AND THE PILOT STATED 'IMMEDIATELY WE WERE IN TOO DEEP AND I WAS UNABLE TO PULL IT OUT OR ADD POWER...' THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. AIRPORT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE AIRPORT WAS NOTAMED CLOSED SINCE DECEMBER 27, 1992. THE PILOT DID NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE AIRPORT OPERATOR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9841Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 54-2319
- Airframe hours: 3526
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Public use
- Operator: US State Animal Damage Cont
- Registered owner: Id Woolgrowers Assoc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1992, 36 hours before
- Departed: CAMBRIDGE, ID
- Destination: 1, BOISE, ID
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: U52, Council, runway 17, 3,600 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 18,039 total, 8,831 in this make and model, 17,897 as pilot in command, 172 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 9 °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 19930107000219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930107000219A), Jan 7, 1993: Piper PA18135, Council, ID, Substantial damage. Dragged wheels in deep snow making a pass over unplowed runway. Wheels caught. Nosed over. Airport notamed closed.

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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