# NTSB WPR18LA105: Piper PA 28-180, N6611J, Montague, CA, March 11, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 10, 2018, 16:55 local (Mar 11, 2018, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Montague, CA - Coordinates: 41.729442, -122.544998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7294&lon=-122.5450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FSDO, Piper - NTSB case key (mKey): 96871 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96871/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96871 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA105 ## Probable cause Impact with powerlines and terrain after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during takeoff following a touch-and-go landing, the airplane would not climb. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing, during which the airplane contacted power lines and terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Following the accident, the engine was successfully run on the airframe at various power settings with no anomalies noted. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airframe, and there was no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Given the available information, the reason for the impact with powerlines and terrain after takeoff could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2018, about 1655 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6611J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Montague, California. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was performing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings when he "took off and something wasn't right." The pilot explained that the engine did not lose power, but the airplane was not "producing lift." The pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane contacted power lines and subsequently impacted terrain about 1 mile east of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the respective flight control surfaces. The wing flap torque tubes were consistent with the flaps being retracted at the time of impact. The propeller remained attached to the engine. Both propeller blades exhibited chordwise scoring and leading-edge gouges. The engine remained attached to the fuselage and displayed no major visible impact damage. During a test run, the engine ran smoothly and continuously at various power settings. There was no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6611J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6611J-2019-08-12), registration cancelled 2019-08-12, S/N 28-5073, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-180 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-5073 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5812.7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2017 - Departed: 1O5, Montague, CA - Destination: 1O5, Montague, CA - Airport: 1O5, Montague-Yreka Rohrer Field, runway 33, 3,360 × 50 ft, dirt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2016; flight hours: 239.1 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KSIY, 5 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 20180310001869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180310001869A), Mar 10, 2018: Piper PA-28-180, Montague, CA, Substantial damage. The accident was reported as follows; the aircraft hit power lines and crash landed. The reported pilot and the aircraft owner has not responded to the loi. No… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96871. 43.7 MB in all. - Memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9144395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20508-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 437 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9145184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Summary%20Report-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from pilot logbook (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9144950&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Log%20excerpt-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logbooks excerpts (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 33.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9152369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maint%20loog%20book%20excerpt_Redacted-Rel.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.