Piper PA 18-150 accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, July 12, 2014
On July 12, 2014 at about 1:15 am local time, a 1981 Piper PA 18-150, registered N91106, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Monte Vista, Colorado (Van Treese 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 adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a go-around following impact with a barley crop, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct a shallow approach with the airplane facing directly into the setting sun, which resulted in sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2014 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado · Van Treese · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150, built 1981 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N91106 · registry record · serial 18-8109069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal flight and attempting to land the airplane. He reported that, due to equipment obstructing the 2,600-ft-long dirt runway at midfield, he conducted a shallow approach to land on the eastern half of the shortened runway with the airplane pointed west almost directly into the setting sun, which resulted in sun glare. When the airplane was about 100 ft east of the end of the runway, the main landing gear impacted a 2-ft-tall barley crop, which slowed the airplane. The pilot initiated a go-around, but he did not attain sufficient speed to maintain flight and exceeded the airplane's critical angle-of-attack. The airplane subsequently stalled, impacted terrain on the edge of the runway, and then came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the vertical tail surfaces. The pilot was not injured and exited the airplane without assistance. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 166 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 26, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,477 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2014; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,477 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSO Pagosa Springs CO
- Destination: 0CO9 Monte Vista CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway W, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
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.
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.