Piper PA-18-150 accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming, April 20, 2003
On April 20, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N40520, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming (Kemmerer Municipal airport). It was a ferry 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 directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop/swerve and impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the wind gust and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kemmerer, Wyoming · Kemmerer Municipal · 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 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N40520 · registry record · serial 18-75-009121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while en route, she received ASOS weather updates. Approximately 30 minutes before landing, reported winds at the airport were 160 degrees at 6 knots. Approximately 10 nautical miles out, an update indicated that the winds were 120 degrees at 3 knots. During the landing roll on runway 16, the pilot encountered a gust of wind. The pilot attempted to regain control, but the airplane swerved to the right and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane's left main landing gear struck a ditch and the left wing tip struck the ground.
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
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,018 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 921 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2002; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RWL Rawlings WY at 5:15 pm
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 120 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N40520 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.