# NTSB WPR13CA055: Piper PA18, N2224, Needles, CA, November 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 24, 2012, 08:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Needles, CA - Coordinates: 34.78062, -114.589019 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7806&lon=-114.5890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85664/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85664 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA055 ## Probable cause The flight instructor, while demonstrating a water landing to the pilot receiving instruction, did not maintain proper alignment with the landing surface, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was providing instruction to the airline transport pilot in a float-equipped airplane. During the flight instructor’s demonstration of a water landing, the airplane was misaligned with the intended landing path when it impacted the water’s surface. A postaccident examination revealed that the airframe was substantially damaged during the resultant hard landing. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing instruction to the airline transport pilot in a float-equipped airplane. During the CFI’s demonstration of a water landing, the airplane impacted the water’s surface misaligned with the intended landing path. A postaccident examination revealed that the airframe was substantially damaged during the hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2224](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2224), registered now, S/N 18-8651, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (A150) - 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: 18-8651 - Airframe hours: 5540 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sheble Aviation and Flight School - Registered owner: Sheble Aviation and Flight School - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2012, 57 hours before - Departed: Bullhead City, AZ - Destination: Bullhead City, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2012; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,256 total, 963 in this make and model, 2,154 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 4,029 total, 2 in this make and model, 2,395 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KEED, 23 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 20121124026839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121124026839A), Nov 24, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Lake Havasu, CA, Substantial damage. Airman was performing instruction. Landing was hard with considerable sideload. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85664. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-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.