Piper PA 18-135 N89018

Summary

On 3 January 2019 at about 22:25 local time, a Piper PA 18-135 registered N89018 was involved in an accident near Longmont, 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

3 January 2019 at 22:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Longmont, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Vance Brand (LMO)

Coordinates

40.1642, -105.1636

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-135

Registration

N89018

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Longmont → Longmont

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA117

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that it was his first flight as pilot-in-command of the tundra tire- and tailwheel-equipped airplane. While on the fourth three-point landing to the concrete runway, after the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered left. He corrected with right rudder and attempted to return to the runway centerline and then applied left rudder, but the airplane continued to veer right. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The owner of the airplane, who was seated in the rear seat, reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.