# NTSB WPR14CA228: Piper PA 18A 150, N1672P, Leeds, UT, June 4, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 4, 2014, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Leeds, UT - Coordinates: 37.228332, -113.349998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2283&lon=-113.3500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89366/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89366 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA228 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to confirm the flaps had been retracted during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of lift and subsequent collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had been familiarizing himself with the operation of the tailwheel-equipped airplane in preparation for utilizing it to provide flight training. During the 2-week period leading up to the accident he had practiced multiple takeoffs, landings, and touch-and-go landings, many of which were performed at the accident airstrip. The pilot reported that he had requested that a volunteer sit in the front seat, so he could familiarize himself with flying from the rear seat. After an uneventful flight, they performed a touch-and-go landing on the dirt airstrip, however, during climb-out the airplane began to rapidly sink. The pilot reported that he asked the passenger to retract the flaps, because the control was positioned next to the front seat. The pilot applied forward elevator control attempting to gain airspeed, but the airplane continued to sink. He elected to perform an off-airport landing on a dirt road just beyond the runway; however, during the landing roll the right wing struck a ditch and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the passenger had not retracted the flaps as the pilot had instructed and they were in the fully extended position. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot had been familiarizing himself with the operation of the tailwheel-equipped airplane in preparation for utilizing it to provide flight training. During the 2-week period leading up to the accident he had practiced multiple takeoffs, landings, and touch-and-go landings, many of which were performed at the accident airstrip. The pilot reported that he had requested that a volunteer sit in the front seat, so he could familiarize himself with flying from the rear seat. After an uneventful flight, they performed a touch-and-go landing on the dirt airstrip, however, during climb-out the airplane began to rapidly sink. The pilot reported that he asked the passenger to retract the flaps, because the control was positioned next to the front seat. The pilot applied forward elevator control attempting to gain airspeed, but the airplane continued to sink. He elected to perform an off-airport landing on a dirt road just beyond the runway; however, during the landing roll the right wing struck a ditch and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the passenger had not retracted the flaps as the pilot had instructed, and they were in the fully extended position. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1672P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1672P), registered now, S/N 18-3801, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18A 150 - 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: 18-3801 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 3884 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2014, 9 hours before - Departed: 1L8, HURRICANE, UT - Destination: NA, Leeds, UT - Airport: NA, Private, runway 36, 1,000 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,032 total, 111 in this make and model, 5,695 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KSGU, 14 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 20140604010169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140604010169A), Jun 4, 2014: Piper PA-18A 150, Leeds, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying to become current instructing in the make and model of aircraft. The PIC was sitting in the rear seat with a unknown certificated passenger in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89366. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane at Accident Site (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Flap Control (item 5, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Flap%20Control-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.