# NTSB WPR23LA336: Piper PA-18-135, N7199K, Compton, CA, September 3, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2023, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Compton, CA
- Coordinates: 33.889917, -118.2438
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8899&lon=-118.2438&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193013
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA336
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193013/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA336

## Probable cause

An overstress fracture of the pilot’s seat, which resulted in the loss of control during takeoff and the pilot’s inadvertent movement of the fuel selector and subsequent partial loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The banner tow flight was in the initial climb after the pilot snagged the banner when the back of the pilot’s seat broke and the pilot inadvertently pulled back on the control yoke as he abruptly slid aft to a horizontal position. The airplane pitched up in a nose-high attitude, causing the pilot to further slide aft. The airplane was about 200 ft above ground level (agl) and at the onset of an aerodynamic stall. Using a crossbeam to pull himself forward, the pilot was able to push the flight control stick forward and recover the airplane. The airplane’s engine then began to “cough” and it sustained a partial loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot made a forced landing to a nearby baseball field. The airplane impacted a fence along a concrete wash resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the pilot’s seat fracture surface revealed characteristics consistent with an overstress fracture. Examination of the engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that when he slid aft, the fuel selector lever may have inadvertently been moved out of the “both/on” position, resulting in the partial loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On September 3, 2023, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135, N7199K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Compton, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner tow flight. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, during a banner tow operation, the back of the pilot’s seat broke and he slid aft into a horizontal position. The abrupt rearward movement resulted in the pilot pulling back on the control yoke, which caused the airplane to pitch up to a nose-high attitude. Due to the high pitch attitude, the pilot slid further back in the seat. Unable to push the flight control stick forward, he let go of the flight controls and used the crossbeam to pull himself forward. About 200 ft agl, at the onset of an aerodynamic stall, he was able to push the flight control stick forward and recover the airplane. As he recovered from the imminent stall, the airplane’s engine began to “cough” and sustained a partial loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude, he elected to make a forced landing to a nearby baseball field. As the airplane descended toward a baseball field, it impacted a fence along a concrete wash and came to rest upright. The pilot believes that when he fell back or when he was pulling himself forward, his foot or knee may have moved the fuel selector lever out of the “both/on” position. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot’s seat back frame was fracture separated on the left and right side near the back rest and seat junction. Examination of the engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot’s seat was sent to National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC, for examination. The examination of the fracture surface revealed characteristics consistent with an overstress fracture. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records could not determine the age of the pilot’s seat, or if recent maintenance had been performed on it.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7199K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7199K), registered now, S/N 18-222, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2a) (registry code 42285, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-222
- Year built: 1950
- Airframe hours: 10706.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Banner tow, Part 91
- Operator: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC
- Registered owner: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 8, 2023
- Airport: CPM, Compton/Woodley
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 21, 2021; seat: front; flight hours: 1,739 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,644 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KHHR, 5 nm away
- METAR: KHHR 032053Z 24012KT 10SM CLR 27/13 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02720128 58010 $

## 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 20230903015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230903015629A), Sep 3, 2023: Piper PA-18-135, Compton, CA, Substantial damage. On September 3, 2023, [privacy data omitted] took off from Compton on runway 25L, and turned around to pick up a banner. During climb out the pilot seat…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193013. 55.6 MB in all.

- Materials laboratory factual report (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7 photos, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17376750&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=24-028%20Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%20(WPR23LA336)-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17342069&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of phone conversation - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17353009&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20-%20pilot-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage exam (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17341936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mechanic%20exam%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control forms (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17394893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 51.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17342079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20Signed%20N7199K_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17342089&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photp%20Array-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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