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Atlas / NTSB / DEN93LA056

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event DEN93LA056

1992-11-08 ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, United States Airport · AEG None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N4069Z

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-18-150

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19640302

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A4C696

Registrant of record

S&P AVIATION LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

Factual narrative

THE CFI (CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR) WAS GIVING THE PRIVATE PILOT A CHECKOUT IN A TAIL WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. THE CFI REPORTED WINDS AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE WHILE THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THEY WERE FROM 160 DEGREES GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS PROCEEDED BY SEVERAL GOOD LANDINGS, BUT THAT DURING THE ACCIDENT LANDING, THE PILOT USED RUDDER PEDALS EXCESSIVELY. THE PILOT STATED THAT WIND CAUSED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THAT AFTER ALIGNING THE AIRPLANE ON CENTERLINE, THE CFI INSTRUCTED HIM TO LOCK THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 05/11/93. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_DEN93LA056.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.