# NTSB WPR22LA120: Piper PA-18, N968SW, Nampa, ID, March 7, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 7, 2022, 15:21 local (22:21 UTC)
- Place: Nampa, ID · airport
- Coordinates: 43.581341, -116.52306 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5813&lon=-116.5231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104766
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104766/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104766
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA120

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind.

## 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-18, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101802), [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-18, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101802), [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 equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [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-18, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that while landing with a crosswind from the right, the airplane veered left. The pilot applied aft pressure to the control stick and brakes, but the airplane nosed over substantially damaging the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N968SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N968SW), registered now, S/N 18-1444, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-1444
- Year built: 1953
- Airframe hours: 3044
- Engines: Continental C-90-8F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2021, 34 hours before
- Airport: KMAN, Nampa Municipal Airport, runway 11, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,606 total, 823 in this make and model, 1,503 as pilot in command, 0.6 in the last 90 days, 0.6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: KMAN
- METAR: KMAN 072215Z AUTO 02007KT 350V050 10SM FEW090 09/M07 A3030 RMK A01

## 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 20220307003259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220307003259A), Mar 7, 2022: Piper PA-18, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was making touch and go's at the Nampa Idaho airport. On the third landing with a cross wind he was having difficulty with tail rudder control. The…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104766. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13532892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 817 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13430744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20120-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.

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