Piper PA-18-150 accident near Delta, Colorado, September 28, 2024
On September 28, 2024 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 1993 Piper PA-18-150, registered N4155W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Delta, Colorado (Blake Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of aircraft control during a bounced landing and go-around, during which the right main landing gear struck a large rock, which damaged it such that it collapsed during the following landing, which caused the airplane to impact the ground resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2024 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Colorado · Blake Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150, built 1993 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4155W · registry record · serial 1809063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing he allowed the airplane to sink faster than intended and it bounced on the main tires. He immediately executed a go-around; however, during the go-around the airplane went off the side of the runway, and struck thick bushes, terrain and rocks before gaining altitude. Just before gaining altitude, the airplane struck a large rock which damaged the right main landing gear. During the subsequent landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane’s nose and right wing struck the ground. The airplane then swung to the right and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,531 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 195 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 1,456 as pilot in command; 1,127 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 22, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2023
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 880 hours total
- Operator: Colorado Mesa University
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 5,598 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KMTJ, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMTJ 281553Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/05 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP202 T01940050=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 19, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.