# NTSB WPR12CA342: Piper PA18, N2364P, McNeal, AZ, August 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2012, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: McNeal, AZ - Coordinates: 31.637777, -109.533058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6378&lon=-109.5331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84564 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84564/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84564 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA342 ## Probable cause The pilot's in-flight decision to fly at low level into an unfamiliar canyon, which resulted in an off-airport landing when the airplane's climb capability was exceeded. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s decreased performance due to the high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taking a passenger on a tour of the local area. The pilot had previously conducted such flights, and he had a normal route that he followed. However, on this occasion, he deviated from that route to "do something a little different" and turned up a canyon that he normally did not fly into. He noticed that the terrain was rising and attempted to climb to clear it. Shortly thereafter, he noticed that the airplane was not going to clear the terrain. He realized that there was insufficient room to execute a course reversal to exit the area and decided to land straight ahead on the rising, vegetation-covered, desert terrain. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane rotated sharply to the right and stopped. The outboard section of the right wing was bent and crumpled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems or failures of the airplane or engine before the accident. The automated weather observation at an airport located 8 miles south of the accident site, at an elevation of 4,150 feet above mean sea level (msl), reported winds from 280 degrees at 3 knots, clear skies, and a temperature of 26 degrees C. The accident site elevation was about 5,400 feet msl, and the estimated density altitude was about 7,600 feet. ## Factual narrative The pilot co-owned the airplane with two other individuals, and the three were business partners in a flight school that specialized in training missionaries for bush pilot operations. The pilot was also a flight instructor for the school, and the airplane was one of the school fleet airplanes. The accident flight was a personal flight to provide the passenger, who was a relative of a colleague, with a tour of the local area. The pilot had previously conducted such flights, and he had a normal route that he followed. However, on this occasion, he deviated from that route to "do something a little different," and turned up a canyon that he normally did not fly into. He noticed the terrain was rising, and attempted to climb to clear it. Shortly thereafter, he noticed that the airplane was not going to clear the terrain. He realized that there was insufficient room to execute a course reversal to exit the area, and decided to land straight ahead on the rising, vegetation-covered desert terrain. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane rotated sharply around to the right and stopped. The passenger sustained minor injuries, while the pilot incurred a skull fracture. The outboard section of the right wing was bent and crumpled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems or failures of the airplane or engine prior to the accident. The automated weather observation at an airport located 8 miles south of the accident site, at an elevation of 4,150 feet above mean sea level (msl), reported winds from 280 degrees at 3 knots; clear skies; and a temperature of 26 degrees C. The accident site elevation was about 5,400 feet msl, with an estimated density altitude of about 7,600 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2364P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2364P), registered now, S/N 18-4251, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (A150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4251 - Airframe hours: 3789 - Engines: LYCOMING O320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 25, 2012 - Departed: 2AZ9, McNeal, AZ - Destination: 2AZ9, McNeal, AZ - Airport: 2AZ9, Tribal Air ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,677 total, 296 in this make and model, 4,573 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: DUG, 8 nm away ## 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 20120802026349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120802026349A), Aug 2, 2012: Piper PA-18A 150, Mcneal, AZ, Destroyed. On 8-2-12 at 0815 hours MST at 7 miles east of Tribal Airport (2AZ9) a Piper PA-18A-150 aircraft impacted the terrain in a canyon. Two persons were on board… ## Other investigations on N2364P (1) 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 UNK64X1785](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1785), May 16, 1964: Piper PA18 (N2364P), Cantil, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84564. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - METARs (item 3, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.PDF - Accident Site Density Altitude (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Density%20Altitude-Master.PDF - Overall View of Accident Locale (Pilot's photo) (item 5, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Overall%20View%20of%20Accident%20Locale%20(Pilot%27s%20photo)-Master.PDF - Aft View of Wreckage (Pilot's photo) (item 6, .PDF, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aft%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20(Pilot%27s%20photo)-Master.PDF - Right Wing Damage (Pilot's Photo) (item 7, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(Pilot%27s%20Photo)-Master.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. --- 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.