Piper PA-18-135 accident near Payette, Idaho, June 2, 2002
On June 2, 2002 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-135, registered N9967Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payette, Idaho (Payette Minicipal 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 failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions during landing resulting in a ground loop/swerve. Wind gusts were a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2002 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Payette, Idaho · Payette Minicipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-135 · all PA-18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N9967Q · registry record · serial 18-4012
- 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 while on final approach for landing, he encountered turbulence and a crosswind correction was applied to maintain runway centerline. The pilot stated that during the flare for a three point landing, he noted an increased descent rate beginning about six feet above ground level. The pilot applied power to arrest the descent rate, however, when the aircraft touched down it bounced. When the aircraft settled to the surface again, the right wing was lifted by a sudden gust of wind. The aircraft weathervaned to the right and the pilot added power in an attempt to regain rudder authority. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the aircraft ground looped. The right wing contacted the surface, substantially damaging the wing spar and several ribs. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time. After the accident, the pilot noted intermittent gusts of wind from 10 to 12 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 136 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,069 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 2002; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S87 Weiser ID at 3:45 pm
- Destination: S75 Payette ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N9967Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA02LA094.