Thursday, February 13, 2020

Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, N530AK: Accidents occurred February 10, 2020 and November 23, 2019 at Kerrville Municipal Airport (KERV), Texas -and- Accident occurred May 31, 2019 at Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field (KSAR), Randolph County, Illinois

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas 

February 10, 2020:  Aircraft experienced a gust of wind on landing and lost control. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N530AK

Date: 10-FEB-20
Time: 20:50:00Z
Regis#: N530AK
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA18
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: KERRVILLE
State: TEXAS

November 23, 2019
Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN20CA033
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Aircraft: PIPER PA18, registration: N530AK

NTSB investigators will use data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator, and will not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.


May 31, 2019
View of damage to the right wing.
Federal Aviation Administration


Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N530AK


Location: Sparta, IL
Accident Number: GAA19CA298
Date & Time: 05/31/2019, 1030 CDT
Registration: N530AK
Aircraft: Piper PA18
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that the airplane was equipped with 26-inch tundra tires, and that he performed a landing on the asphalt runway. The airplane touched down and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake but overcorrected the airplane's direction to the left. Subsequently, the airplane ground-looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/13/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/24/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 2034 hours (Total, all aircraft), 10 hours (Total, this make and model), 1919 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 95 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 27 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N530AK
Model/Series: PA18 150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18-4385
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/30/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3187 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Amateur/Experimental
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: Unknown
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSAR, 538 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1535 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 290°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 300°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sparta, IL (SAR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sparta, IL (SAR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0715 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Sparta Community-Hunter Field (SAR)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 537 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 36
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4002 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.148889, -89.698611 (est)

Aeronca O-58B Grasshopper, N46674: Incident occurred January 30, 2020 at Taunton Municipal Airport (KTAN), Bristol County, Massachusetts

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boston, Massachusetts

Aircraft after fueling, pilot hand cranked the propeller, moved forward hitting a hangar and a light pole.

https://registry.faa.gov/N46674

Date: 30-JAN-20
Time: 21:00:00Z
Regis#: N46674
Aircraft Make: AERONCA
Aircraft Model: O58B
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: STANDING (STD)
Operation: 91
City: TAUNTON
State: MASSACHUSETTS

Maule M-7-260, N309MA: Accident occurred February 02, 2020 at Manchester Airport (KMHT, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

View of right wing damage. 


Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


https://registry.faa.gov/N309MA

Location: Manchester, NH

Accident Number: ERA20CA098
Date & Time: 02/02/2020, 1255 EST
Registration: N309MA
Aircraft: Maule M7
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a crosswind landing, the airplane bounced and veered to the left. The right wing struck the surface and the airplane ground looped to the left.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 8 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 35. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/21/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/21/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 13700 hours (Total, all aircraft), 91 hours (Total, this make and model), 5500 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 32 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 17 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Maule
Registration: N309MA
Model/Series: M7 260
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 26002C
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/19/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1618.9 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: I0-540-V4A5
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 260 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMHT, 221 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1753 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 183°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 3900 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 300°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.46 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / -6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Manchester, NH (MHT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Manchester, NH (MHT)
Type of Clearance: Traffic Advisory
Departure Time: 1200 EST
Type of Airspace: Class C

Airport Information

Airport: Manchester (MHT)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 266 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 9250 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and Go; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.932778, -71.435833 (est)