# NTSB SEA94LA048: Piper PA-18-150, N82166, Missoula, MT, January 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 11, 1994, 15:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Missoula, MT - Coordinates: 46.900897, -113.920372 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9009&lon=-113.9204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41867 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41867/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA048 ## Probable cause THE PILOT/PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot passenger (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE REAR SEAT PILOT/PASSENGER ALLOWED THE TAIL WHEELED AIRCRAFT TO DIVERGE FROM THE CENTERLINE. THE PILOT IN COMMAND TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT A GROUND LOOP, BUT FAILED TO PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM IMPACTING A FRANGIBLE TAXIWAY DIRECTION SIGN LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAY 'D' AND RUNWAY 25. ## Factual narrative On January 11, 1994, at 1535 hours mountain standard time (MST), a Piper PA-18-150, N82166, registered to/operated by Minuteman Aviation, Inc., and being flown by Mark G. Mamuzich, a certificated commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a taxiway direction sign during landing rollout, following a loss of control on landing at the Missoula International Airport, Missoula, Montana. The pilot and a commercially certificated rear seat pilot were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was local and personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and originated at Missoula at approximately 1530 hours. Pilot Mamuzich, the front seat pilot, reported that after he had executed several touch and go landings he allowed pilot Kenneth G. Fielding to execute a touch and go. During the second of Fielding's approaches, which was to have been a full stop on runway 25, the aircraft began to diverge from the centerline toward the left side. Pilot Mamuzich reported that he then "got on the controls to help save the aircraft from doing a complete ground loop." During his recovery the aircraft impacted a frangible taxiway direction sign (refer to photographs 1 & 2) sign in the northwest corner of the intersection of taxiway "D" and runway 25 (refer to DIAGRAM I). Pilot Mamuzich reported that the aircraft had almost stopped when the left side of the empennage just forward of the horizontal stabilizer impacted the sign. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82166](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82166), registered now, S/N 18-7809137, built 1978 (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: 18-7809137 - Airframe hours: 3511 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Minuteman Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Minuteman Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1993, 2 hours before - Airport: MSO, Missoula International, runway 25, 4,612 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,733 total, 100 in this make and model, 5,340 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MSO ## 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 19940111000299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940111000299A), Jan 11, 1994: Piper PA18150, Missoula, MT, Substantial damage. Allowed right seat pilot to land. Lost control. Began ground loop PIC pilot tried correct. Hit runway sign. 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.