# NTSB WPR23LA235: John Topliff PA18-200EXP, N356AW, Truckee, CA, June 21, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 21, 2023, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA · TRK - Coordinates: 39.3196, -120.1545 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3196&lon=-120.1545&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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): 192422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192422/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192422 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA235 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control on landing roll out, during variable wind conditions. ## 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: [John Topliff PA18-200EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05632JQ), [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: [John Topliff PA18-200EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632JQ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [John Topliff PA18-200EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=05632JQ), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [John Topliff PA18-200EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05632JQ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he had been approved by air traffic control (ATC), to enter the traffic pattern for runway 11. On final approach, ATC advised the pilot that the wind had changed, and suggested a straight in approach to land runway 02. The pilot accepted the suggestion and clearance to land runway 02. The airplane touched down on its main landing gear and as the tailwheel settled to the ground, the tail “was pushed around.” The airplane ground looped and came to a stop in the grass beside the runway. Once on the ground, the pilot noticed that multiple windsocks on the airport were displaying different wind directions and suspected the airplane had encountered a strong crosswind. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N356AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N356AW), registered now, S/N PA-18-200-1-JT, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JOHN TOPLIFF PA18-200EXP - Registry model: [John Topliff PA18-200EXP](https://openairdocs.org/model/john-topliff-pa18-200exp) (registry code 05632JQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1a) (registry code 41818, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: PA-18-200-1-JT - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 465.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 6, 2022 - Departed: 027, Oakdale, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 02, 4,654 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 320 total, 31 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KTRK - METAR: KTRK 212250Z COR VRB05KT 10SM FEW060 19/M04 A3011= ## 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 20230621013139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230621013139A), Jun 21, 2023: John Topliff PA18-200EXP, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. On June 21, 2023, at approximately 3:15 PDT, pilot was conducting 14 CFR 91 flight from rhv to trk for additional flight instruction. Tower gave clearance to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192422. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15857342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA235%20_%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15856428&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA235_photo_508-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.