Piper PA-18-150 accident near Stockton, California, November 1, 2007
On November 1, 2007, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4153M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockton, California (Private Airstrip airport). It was a business 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 maintain clearance from a ditch while taxiing. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2007
- Place
- Stockton, California · Private Airstrip · 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 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4153M · registry record · serial 1809042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while taxing the tailwheel-equipped airplane into position for takeoff from a private airstrip, the main landing gear struck a ditch stopping the aircraft's forward movement almost instantly. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed that the rudder and two lift struts were bent. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Stockton CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.