Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-18-150 N9461P

21 May 1993 · Vacaville, California, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 21 May 1993 at about 20:35 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N9461P, operated by JOY I. Smith, was involved in an accident near Vacaville, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 20:35
Classification
Accident
Location
Vacaville, California, United States
Nearest airport
Nut Tree (O45)
Coordinates
38.3502, -121.9298
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Registration
N9461P
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
JOY I. Smith
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX93LA220

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after encountering strong and gusty cross winds during the landing flare.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

An FAA inspector witnessed the accident and reported that the aircraft was landing with a right 45 degree cross wind he estimated at 14 knots with higher gusts to 17 knots. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft ground looped and nosed over. The inspector stated that he routinely flies into and out of the airport, and, due to some trees bordering the airport, the wind conditions can sometimes be highly variable with wind shears and vortex situations. All of the pilot's flight time was accrued in tail wheel aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-18 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Oct 1993 Piper PA-18
N3874Z
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States Office of Aircraft Services Unknown -
8 Mar 1993 Piper PA-18
N8696D
Marshall, Arkansas, United States Mistak, John No injuries -
29 Apr 1993 Piper PA-18
N2578P
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States Wolfe, Fredrick M. Fatal 1
28 Feb 1993 Piper PA-18-150
N789FG
Winnett, Montana, United States Flint, Gary LEE No injuries -
27 May 1993 Piper PA-18-150
N4388Z
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Cline, Epton D. No injuries -
15 Jun 1993 Piper PA-18-150
N2571H
Skwentna, Alaska, United States Wolf Trail Lodge, Inc. No injuries -

All 2,950 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Jul 1993 Cessna 310H
N310HJ
Lancaster, California, United States Yehiem Konski Fatal 6
14 Nov 1993 Cessna 182
N5723B
Colusa, California, United States - No injuries -
20 Jan 1993 Cessna 172P
N53908
Sun City, California, United States Hiser Helicopters, Inc. Fatal 1
31 Jul 1993 Robinson R44
N445RH
El Monte, California, United States
no coordinates
Benjamin F. Venti, SR. Fatal 3
17 Nov 1993 Piper PA-38-112
N2346G
Fresno, California, United States - No injuries -
21 Jan 1993 Beechcraft A35
N595B
Tulare, California, United States Rent and Lease Programs Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States