N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Twin Falls, Idaho 93301
Saturday, October 26, 2013 17:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane had just completed an uneventful local flight, taking off and landing in a ploughed field adjacent to the home of his friend. A short time later he prepared for the return flight to his home base, and prior to departure he moved his seat forward to accommodate the passenger behind. During the takeoff roll he inadvertently moved the mixture control with his left knee, and the engine began to lose power. He aborted the takeoff, and as he applied brake pressure, the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane had recently been rebuilt, with the mixture control positioned in the lower left corner of the instrument panel, just above the pilot's left knee. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of aircraft control during the rejected takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Twin Falls
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93301
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423432N
Event Location Longitude 1142632W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KTWF
Elevation of weather observation facility 4154
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
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) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KTWF 262253Z AUTO 36004KT 10SM CLR 21/M02 A3
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) 32137
NTSB Notification Source FAA NWM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2013 12:14AM
User who most recently changed record sime1
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83417
NTSB Number WPR14CA035
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 A150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7909027
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
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 Aug 26 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 14
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name WOOD GORDON S
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LOGAN
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 843412984
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name WOOD GORDON S
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LOGAN
Operator State UT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 843412984
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 --
Departure City Twin Falls
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LGU
Destination City Logan
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2013 11:53PM
User who most recently changed record sime1
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --