Piper PA-18 N350CC

Summary

On 9 August 2009 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N350CC, operated by Culwell Charles W DBA, was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado, United States. 2 people were 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

9 August 2009 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Aspen, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Aspen-Pitkin COunty Airport (ASE)

Coordinates

39.2231, -106.8689

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N350CC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Culwell Charles W DBA

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aspen → Gateway Canyons

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA544

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a preceding large business jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to takeoff, the pilot was warned by tower controllers to use caution for wake turbulence from a preceding large business jet. During takeoff roll, prior to the tailwheel becoming airborne, the airplane ground-looped to the left and came to rest beside the runway. The pilot stated that the winds were calm and that he did not wait a sufficient amount of time behind the preceding airplane before starting his takeoff. Examination of the airplane revealed a bent right wing spar, bent right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.