Summary
On May 18, 2018, a Piper PA 18 (N7265K) was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, NM. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's loss of directional control following an encounter with gusty crosswind during landing.
After an uneventful 40-minute cross country flight, the pilot set up to land his tailwheel airplane. The pilot checked with the tower and they reported the wind from 240 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot set up to land on runway 22. The pilot stated that upon landing, the aircraft encountered a strong gusty crosswind and he lost directional control. The aircraft veered to the left across the runway surface and flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, wing struts, and fuselage.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN18CA176. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7265K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's loss of directional control following an encounter with gusty crosswind during landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
After an uneventful 40-minute cross country flight, the pilot set up to land his tailwheel airplane. The pilot checked with the tower and they reported the wind from 240 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot set up to land on runway 22. The pilot stated that upon landing, the aircraft encountered a strong gusty crosswind and he lost directional control. The aircraft veered to the left across the runway surface and flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, wing struts, and fuselage.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN18CA176