Skip to content

WPR10TA335

2010-07-05 · Dillon, Montana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KDLN

Current FAA registration · N6110A

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-150
Year of manufacture
1979 · 31 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19791203
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A7F4CE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Factual narrative

On July 5, 2010, about 1300 Mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N6110A, was substantially damaged during a ground loop during landing at Dillon Airport, Dillon, Montana. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the State of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as a public use flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and it is unknown if a flight plan was filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he entered a normal traffic pattern for runway 22 and observed the winds to be a right quartering headwind. After a normal approach, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. As the tail wheel was about to touch down the airplane veered to the right. The pilot used left rudder and brake to compensate for the turn, but the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Through the use of left rudder and brake the pilot was able to stop the right turn, but then the airplane turned to the left and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar and right elevator. The pilot reported that during approach for runway 22 he observed the winds to be a quartering headwind from the right. After a normal approach the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. As the tail wheel was about to touch down the airplane veered to the right. The pilot used left rudder and brake to compensate for the turn, but the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Through the use of left rudder and brake the pilot was able to stop the right turn, but then the airplane turned to the left and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar and right elevator. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_WPR10TA335.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.