Casualties unknown

1998-09-27: Piper PA-16 (N5932H) — Medford, OR

Medford, OR, US

On September 27, 1998, a Piper PA-16 (registration N5932H) was involved in an aviation accident near Medford, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Directional control was not maintained. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane ground-looped and nosed over after landing when the pilot was instructed to taxi without delay. The pilot claimed a Boeing 737's wake caused the veer, but witnesses reported the 737 was abeam on a taxiway.

Incident Overview

After landing on a runway, the pilot of an airplane was instructed by air traffic control to taxi without delay and exit at a designated taxiway. While proceeding along the runway, the airplane veered to the right before reaching the intended exit. It subsequently ground-looped, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported that a Boeing 737, which had landed just before his airplane, blew him over as the larger aircraft was turning off the runway. According to the pilot, the wake from the Boeing 737 caused his airplane to veer and ground loop.

Witness Accounts

Witnesses on the ground provided a different account of the events. They stated that the Boeing 737 had already landed approximately two minutes earlier and was taxiing back on a parallel taxiway when the incident airplane touched down. At the time the smaller aircraft veered off the runway and ground-looped, the Boeing 737 was positioned abeam (adjacent) to it on the taxiway.

Sequence of Events

The incident unfolded after the landing rollout. The pilot was directed to expedite taxiing and remain on the runway until reaching the specified taxiway. The airplane began to deviate from its path, turned sharply right, and then completed a ground loop before flipping onto its back. The aircraft remained inverted at the conclusion of the event.

No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, location, time, or weather conditions were provided in the source material.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11177. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.