Sidney Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sidney, Nebraska 69162
Friday, March 16, 2001 12:55 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot made a 3-point landing on runway 12. The airplane "rolled solid on all 3 wheels for approximately 30-50 feet ... when [a] gust of wind picked up the mains (main landing gear)." The pilot momentarily applied full power and brought the airplane to a level attitude. The airplane then contacted the runway in a left-to-right drift. The pilot said he reapplied full power as the airplane drifted. The rotation to the right stopped with the airplane approximately 80 degrees to the runway. The pilot said he continued with full power in an attempt to fly away level. The airplane contacted a 3-foot high berm which caused the airplane to bounce into a nose high attitude. The pilot said he pushed the nose over and contacted the ground. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The wind conditions reported at the time of the accident were 150 degrees at 10 knots, gusts to 15 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor relating to this accident was the berm.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/2001
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1255
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SIDNEY
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69162
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SIDNEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SNY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 235
Airport Elevation 4312
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID SNY
Elevation of weather observation facility 4312
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) 3935
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11006
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 16 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2213
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 27 2001 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office LINCOLN, NEBRASKA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3947Z
NTSB Number CHI01LA105
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7805
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 2160
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RODNEY D. BROWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11482 W. TENNESSEE PLACE
Aircraft Owner City LAKEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80226
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GXY
Departure City GREELEY
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SNY
Destination City SIDNEY
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2001 8:50AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 6600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --