Piper PA-18 N1588P

Summary

On 23 April 2008 at about 17:15 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N1588P, operated by War Eagles Air Museum, was involved in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, 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.

Date

23 April 2008 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Teresa, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Dona Ana County Airport (5T6)

Coordinates

31.8764, -106.6919

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N1588P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

War Eagles Air Museum

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

MacGuire Ranch → Santa Teresa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08CA113

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the strong gusty crosswinds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot began a normal approach to runway 28 at his intended destination airport and stated that he had a large crosswind correction because of strong winds from the southwest. The airspeed was indicating between 60 and 70 miles per hour and no flaps were used. The pilot touched down on the main gear slightly to the right of the runway centerline and in good alignment with plenty of runway remaining. The pilot then decided due to the strong winds to attempt a go-around and applied power. According to the pilot's statement, a gust of wind brought the left wing up and the aircraft right wing appeared to be scraping the runway. The aircraft began to turn to the right and went off the north side of the runway at about 90 degrees from the runway heading. The airplane then went through a dried creek bed 10 to 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide approximately 100 feet north of the runway. The nose hit the north rim of the creek bed and the aircraft flipped and came to rest inverted facing to the west. The pilot was able to egress unassisted and sustained only minor injuries. Winds were reported at the time of the accident as 14 knots with gusts to 28 knots from 250 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.