# NTSB WPR24LA280: Piper PA-18-150, N9166T, Island Park, ID, August 19, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 19, 2024, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Island Park, ID - Coordinates: 44, -111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0000&lon=-111.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 194954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194954/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194954 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA280 ## Probable cause A loss of lateral control during takeoff due to an accumulation of water in the right wing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: rain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff, upon leaving the ground, the airplane abruptly rolled to the right. The pilot attempted to correct this by applying full left aileron and rudder inputs, but the airplane did not respond. Subsequently, the right wing tip impacted the ground, followed by the nose of the airplane resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. After the accident, water was observed draining from the interior of the right wing around the wing root. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the airplane had been exposed to heavy rainfall the night prior to the accident. He further noted that water had accumulated in the wing prior to takeoff and that he had no means to detect or remove the water before takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9166T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9166T), registered now, S/N 18-7909065, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7909065 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 1929.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PRIV, Island Park, ID - Destination: KIDA, Idaho Falls, ID - Airport: PRIV, Island Park, Idaho, runway 36, 3,125 × 50 ft, gravel - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KDIJ, 16 nm away - METAR: KDIJ 200356Z AUTO 11006KT 10SM CLR 17/08 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01720083 $ ## 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 20240819016529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240819016529A), Aug 19, 2024: Piper PA-18-150, Island Park, ID, Substantial damage. Aircraft was parked outside overnight in a thunderstorm exposed to the elements. The next morning, pilot performed preflight inspection of aircraft prior to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194954. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 22 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18419445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1-Rel_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18420095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.