Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-18-150 N2887P

11 April 2010 · Taft, California, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 11 April 2010 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N2887P, operated by Rapid River Aviation, LLC, was involved in an accident near Taft, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. 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 18:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Taft, California, United States
Nearest airport
Taft-Kern County (L17)
Coordinates
35.1417, -119.4381
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Registration
N2887P
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Rapid River Aviation, LLC
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Taft → Bakersfield
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
WPR10CA203

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control during takeoff upon encountering a strong wind gust.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff from runway 07, as the pilot was becoming airborne, he encountered a strong southeasterly gust of wind. The pilot stated that despite his efforts at maintaining control, the gust was so strong that the right wing lifted up, and the airplane rolled over. At the time, the engine was already developing full power and the pilot's application of full flight control corrective actions was inadequate to counter the gust of wind during this critical phase of flight. The airplane, which became uncontrollable, came to rest upside down with broken wings and a crushed vertical stabilizer. The airport manager witnessed the mishap and corroborated the pilot's statements regarding the wind. The manager estimated the wind's speed was between 25 and 35 mph.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-18 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 May 2010 Piper PA-18-150
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23 Dec 2010 Piper PA-18-150
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17 Mar 2010 Piper PA-18-150
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14 May 2010 Piper PA-18-135
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Willow, Alaska, United States Neal Burleson Fatal 1
3 Apr 2010 Piper PA-18-150
N82732
Stony River, Alaska, United States State of Alaska No injuries -

All 2,950 records for this type

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12 Oct 2010 Boeing A75N1(PT17)
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All 170,864 records in United States