N905CC

Substantial
None

PIPER PA-18-150S/N: 9905CC

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
NTSB Number
CEN09CA069
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Event ID
20081121X35932
Coordinates
38.968334, -104.807777
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control and his failure to compensate for wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were gusting winds with a wind shear warning in effect.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
9905CC
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2000
Model / ICAO
PA-18-150PA18
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
PA-18-150

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
70120 MCKENZIE CANYON RD
City
SISTERS
State / Zip Code
OR 97759-9742
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, after completing the final towing flight for the day, he returned to AFF for landing. He was cleared to land runway 34L and touched down "on the numbers and centerline with full flaps at 45 miles per hour(MPH)." The pilot reported that the airplane immediately weather vaned to the left, and headed for the left runway edge. He applied corrective counter-measures, "over corrected", and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane came to rest on the soft shoulder after completing 180 degrees of turn (ground loop). During the ground loop maneuver, the airplane sustained a bent outer left wing and aileron, and a bent left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane prior to the accident and was able to taxi the plane to it's hangar after recovery. Wind conditions reported at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 15 MPH gusting to 20 MPH with a wind shear warning in effect.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA069