No fatalities

18 May 2018: PIPER PA 18 105 SPECIA — Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, NM, United States

On 18 May 2018, a PIPER PA 18 105 SPECIA was involved in an aviation accident near Albuquerque, NM. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot lost directional control after encountering a strong gusty crosswind during landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel airplane flipped inverted after losing directional control during a crosswind landing on runway 22. The pilot reported wind from 240 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 25 knots. Substantial damage to wings and fuselage.

Accident Overview

A tailwheel airplane sustained substantial damage when it flipped inverted after experiencing a loss of directional control during landing. The accident occurred following an uneventful 40-minute cross-country flight.

Flight and Landing

Prior to landing, the pilot communicated with the tower, which reported wind conditions from 240 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot set up to land on runway 22. Upon landing, the aircraft encountered a strong gusty crosswind, leading to a loss of directional control. The airplane veered to the left across the runway surface and subsequently flipped inverted.

Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the wings, wing struts, and fuselage. No other damage was reported.

Probable Cause

The pilot lost directional control after encountering a strong gusty crosswind during landing.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotEffect on operation

Other contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintained