Piper PA-18-150 accident near Ephrata, WA
On June 3, 1999, a Piper PA-18-150 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ephrata, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 3, 1999
- Place
- Ephrata, WA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.271°N, 119.591°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19109
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 3, 1999, approximately 1441 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper, PA-18-150, N3189Z, registered to Puget Sound Soaring Association, and being flown by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during a collision with terrain at the Ephrata Municipal airport, Ephrata, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured and a post crash fire consumed the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was engaged in a glider tow operation, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the airport immediately before the accident. The glider pilot reported in a written statement that "after the towrope was taut the glider pilot radioed the towplane to takeoff. The takeoff was started and the glider was airborne at about 35 knots. The towplane was also noted to be airborne at this time. A second or two later the towpilot advised on the radio 'SPOILERS, BOB, SPOILERS.' The glider pilot saw his spoilers up about two inches, grabbed the spoiler handle, pushed forward and locked the spoilers. He then saw he was in a nose high, pitch-up position. He pushed forward on the stick, then realizing he was in a high tow position, he reached for the release knob but the rope broke before he could reach it" (refer to attached NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The glider pilot observed that the tow plane had crashed and executed a 180 turn returning and landing at the airport. The glider pilot was interviewed and reported observing the Piper's flaps extending during the takeoff/climb phase. An ear witness located at the south e
Probable cause
The glider pilot's failure to maintain control of his aircraft during spoiler retraction, which led to the Piper pilot's inability to recover safe flying airspeed within the altitude constraints at the time of the event. Contributing factors were the failure of the glider pilot to ensure that the spoilers were locked prior to takeoff, and the binding of the tow aircraft's tow hook release latch.
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Browse: Washington · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
