# NTSB SEA95LA148: Piper PA-18-150, N82555, Mccall, ID, July 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1995, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Mccall, ID - Coordinates: 45.069889, -115.97013 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0699&lon=-115.9701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42190 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42190/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA148 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO REMAIN CLEAR OF TERRAIN AFTER INITIATING A GO-AROUND. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE TERRAIN AND WIND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING DOWNDRAFTS). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, go-around (vfr) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN ON THE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND SPEED ACCELERATED (TAILWIND). THE PILOT OPTED TO GO-AROUND AND STATED THAT DURING THE CLIMB OUT, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DOWN DRAFTS. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO OUT-CLIMB THE TERRAIN AND THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE FOR A FORCED LANDING INTO A RIVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PILOT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER PILOT ON THE GROUND OF TURBULENT CONDITIONS ON FINAL APPROACH. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1995, at 1500 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18- 150, N82555, collided with water during a go-around from the USFS Vines airstrip located 50 nautical miles northeast of McCall, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight had originated from another private airstrip located three miles southwest of the accident location. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he was the last of a group of airplanes to fly into this airstrip. The other pilots on the ground reported turbulence and down drafts on approach. The pilot approached runway 27, and stated that just prior to touch down, he felt the airplane accelerate and opted to go-around. During the go-around, the airplane encountered down drafts. The pilot stated that the airplane was not climbing sufficiently to clear surrounding terrain so he maneuvered the airplane to the river where a forced landing was made in the river. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82555](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82555), registered now, S/N 18-7909006 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7909006 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy P. Randall - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1995, 9 hours before - Departed: I08, ID - Airport: (Usfs) Vines, runway 27, 1,100 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 10,400 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19950711044589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950711044589A), Jul 11, 1995: Piper PA18150, Mccall, ID, Substantial damage. Updrafts on final. Went around. Downdraft on second try. Unable clear terrain. Force landed in river. 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.