# NTSB SEA94LA215: Piper PA-18-150, N7789P, Hailey, ID, August 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1994, 10:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place: Hailey, ID
- Coordinates: 43.570072, -114.210853 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5701&lon=-114.2109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42002/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA215

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A TAILWIND.

## 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
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A LANDING WAS MADE WITH A LEFT QUARTERING TAILWIND OF APPROXIMATELY SIX KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL FOR THE FIRST 100 FEET; HOWEVER, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND SUDDENLY INCREASED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT AND RAN OFF THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On August 18, 1994, at 1058 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA- 18-150, N7789P, ground looped after landing at the Freidman Memorial Airport, Hailey, Idaho.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The personal flight had departed from Galena, Idaho, on August 18, 1994, at 1030.

The pilot reported that a landing was made on runway 31 with a left quartering tailwind that the control tower reported as five to six knots.  During the landing roll, the pilot stated that everything was normal for the first 100 feet, then the tailwind increased to approximately ten knots.  The pilot was unable to maintain control as the airplane ground looped, collapsing the right main landing gear and damaging the right wing.

At 1100, the control tower reported that the winds were from 180 degrees at five knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7789P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7789P), registered now, S/N 18-7835 (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: 18-7835
- Airframe hours: 3299
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Munson, Russell W.
- Registered owner: Munson, Russell W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1993, 178 hours before
- Departed: U87, GALENA, ID
- Airport: SUN, Friedman Memorial, runway 31, 6,602 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,504 total, 2,368 in this make and model, 3,420 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUN

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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