# NTSB WPR10CA049: Piper PA-18-150, N82213, Lewiston, ID, November 1, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 1, 2009, 07:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Lewiston, ID
- Coordinates: 46.377335, -117.01116 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3773&lon=-117.0112&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Spokane FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75033
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75033/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA049

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to execute a go-around in gusting winds and with up-sloping terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot, who was making a visual-flight-rules approach to an 800-foot-long remote airstrip, overflew the runway to observe the windsock. Because he observed the windsock hanging limp, he assumed that the winds around the runway were calm, and therefore continued his approach. About the time he reached the approach end of the uphill-sloping runway, the airplane encountered a strong tailwind gust, which pushed it "…too far up the strip to land." The pilot therefore executed a go-around, but his decision was "too late" and he was therefore unable to outclimb the terrain on the departure end of the runway. During the go-around sequence, the airplane's landing gear came in contact with brush and it flipped over onto its back. Ground witnesses told the pilot that all morning the winds had been variable in direction and had been changing rapidly from nearly calm to gusting as high as 20 miles per hour.

## Factual narrative

The pilot, who was making a visual flight rules (VFR) approach to a 800-foot long remote airstrip, overflew the runway to observe the windsock. Because he observed the windsock hanging limp, he assumed that the winds around the runway were calm, and therefore continued his approach. About the time he reached the approach end of the uphill-sloping runway, the airplane encountered a strong tailwind gust which pushed it, "…too far up the strip to land." The pilot therefore executed a go-around, but his decision was "too late," and he was therefore unable to out-climb the terrain on the departure end of the runway. During the go-around sequence, the airplane's landing gear came in contact with low growing brush, and it flipped over onto its back. Ground witnesses told the pilot that all morning the winds had been variable in direction and had been changing rapidly from nearly calm to gusting as high as 20 miles per hour.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82213](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82213), registered now, S/N 18-8009031, built 1979 (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: 18-8009031
- Airframe hours: 992
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James J. Babb
- Registered owner: The Solar Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2009
- Departed: S80, Grangeville, ID
- Destination: 0ID8, Grangeville, ID
- Airport: 0ID8, Pinnacle, runway 09, 800 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 7, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 2,101 total, 567 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- 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 20091101021459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091101021459A), Nov 1, 2009: Piper PA18150, Grangeville, ID, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was landing at a private airstrip named Pinnacle airstrip (01D8) about 10 miles south of the Grangeville airport. He elected to go…

## Other investigations on N82213 (2)

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.

- [NTSB WPR12CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA028), Oct 30, 2011: Piper PA-18-150 (N82213), Grangeville, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB FTW84LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA280), Jun 19, 1984: Piper PA-18-150 (N82213), Blue Ridge, TX, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75033. 651 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321436&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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