Piper PA18 accident near Peyton, Colorado, August 1, 2012
On August 1, 2012 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA18, registered N7808Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Peyton, Colorado (Meadow Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during taxi in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2012 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Peyton, Colorado · Meadow Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18 150 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- N7808Z · registry record · serial 18-8485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing, the airplane’s left wing contacted the ground during the taxi in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in damage to the left wing spar. The pilot completed the taxi to the tie-down area without further incident. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had been more vigilant in watching and immediately correcting for any wind gusts that might upset the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during taxi
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 29,235 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 24,625 as pilot in command; 13,661 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 18, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: High Flights Soaring Club Inc
The flight
- Departed from: FLY Peyton CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: FLY Peyton CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15R, 1,800 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from FLY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N7808Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.