Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Monday, May 27, 2002 11:14 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was practicing a stop-and-go landing on runway 08 in the Piper PA-18-135 when he encountered a whirlwind. The aircraft veered off the runway during which the left wingtip impacted the ground. The aircraft continued away from the runway coming to rest nose down in a ditch. Winds recorded at the accident airport before and after the accident ranged from zero to seven knots speed, and from the northeast quadrant. No gusts were reported during the morning/afternoon hours.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing resulting in the aircraft departing the runway environment and the wing impacting the ground. Contributing factors were the dustdevil/whirlwind which the aircraft encountered and the ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1114
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lewiston
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83501
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 462218N
Event Location Longitude 1170100W
Event Location Airport Lewiston-Nez Perce County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LWS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1438
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LWS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1438
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12888
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 27 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2003 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane, WA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9845Q
NTSB Number SEA02LA088
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-18-135
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-3550
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 10 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3118
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kurt H. Blume
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Genesee
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83832
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code LWS
Departure City Lewiston
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2002 12:48PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08
Runway Length 6512
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --