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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 13, 1998 · Piper PA-18-150 · N4037E

Watkins, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 13, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Watkins, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N4037E
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW98LA398

Following landing from a banner tow flight, the pilot was taxiing to parking and headed into the wind when a wind gust lifted the aircraft which then came to rest inverted. Reported wind velocity at the time was 9 knots with gusts to 18 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

Gusting winds which blew the aircraft inverted during taxi.

Full Narrative

On September 13, 1998, at 1600 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4037E, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi at Aurora Air Park, Aurora, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was a local area banner tow flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to information provided via the pilot report of the accident, the aircraft encountered a wind gust during taxi following landing and nosed over. The pilot said that the aircraft was heading into the wind and he was waiting for wing walkers to assist taxiing back to the hangar when a gust lifted the aircraft. He said he applied power to try and establish control; however, the aircraft rolled to the right and came to rest inverted. The nearest weather reporting facility to the accident site was Denver international Airport, located approximately 6 miles north of Aurora Air Park. At the time of the accident they were reporting winds form 350 degrees magnetic heading at 9 knots with gusts to 18 knots. Terrain between the airports is flat farm land.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 MDT
Nearest AirportAurora Airpark (1nm S)
Runway35
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width35 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN4037E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 9 kt, gusting 18 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data