# NTSB WPR20CA214: Piper PA 18A-135, N60733, Marion, MT, July 6, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2020, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Marion, MT - Coordinates: 48.094722, -114.851669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0947&lon=-114.8517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101566 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101566/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101566 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA214 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101822), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing in gusty wind conditions, and he lost control of the airplane when the tailwheel lifted off of the ground. She added engine power, but then immediately reduced power due to the airplane drifting. The airplane subsequently departed the runway surface and collided with a fence. The airplane's left wing and forward fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60733](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60733), registered now, S/N 18-3366 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 18A-135 (B) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-135) (registry code 7101822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3366 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 3885.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 B2C 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2019, 3 hours before - Departed: MT53, Marion, MT - Destination: MT53, Marion, ID - Airport: MT53, Carson Field Airport, runway 32, 3,650 × 24 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 947 total, 64 in this make and model, 764 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: MT53, 1 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 20200706009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200706009669A), Jul 6, 2020: Piper PA-18A-135, Marion, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting landing practice at private airstrip. On second landing the pilot felt the aircraft drifting off the runway. Pilot attempted to add power… ## Other investigations on N60733 (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 SEA03LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA068), Apr 23, 2003: Piper PA-18-135 (N60733), Marion, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll resulting in the aircraft leaving the runway, crossing a ditch and collapsing the landing gear. A contributing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101566. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10081440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-operator%20accident%20report%20form_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array of damaged aircraft at accident site (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10076746&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20of%20damage%20to%20airplane-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.