Piper PA-18-150 accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, March 29, 2001
On March 29, 2001 at about 10:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N9464D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado (Grand Junction airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure by the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff roll. A factor was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2001 · about 10:56 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Junction, Colorado · Grand Junction · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N9464D · registry record · serial 18-6707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff roll, with a direct crosswind of 13 knots, the 70 hour student pilot lost control of the aircraft and it exited the side of the runway and ground looped. The right wing and right main landing gear separated from the aircraft and the pilot sustained minor injuries. .
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
Pilot
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 630 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2001; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 10:56 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 10,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from GJT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.