Piper PA 18 accident near Livermore, California, November 16, 2019
On November 16, 2019 at about 11:10 pm local time, a 1957 Piper PA 18, registered N8589D, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Livermore, California (Livermore Muni airport). It was a banner-towing 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 improper installation of the flight control stick, which resulted in separation of the flight control stick from the stick stub assembly and an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2019 · about 11:10 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Muni · cases near this airport · 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, built 1957 · all PA 18s on the register
- Registration
- N8589D · registry record · serial 18-6249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a banner tow flight, the pilot successfully picked up the banner then pulled the flight control stick back to gain altitude. The flight control stick separated from the stick hub assembly at the floor and the airplane made an uncontrolled descent to the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that the hardware that secured the flight control stick to the stick hub assembly was connected to the flight control stick but was not attached through the mounting holes on the stick hub assembly. Given the wear marks on the stick stub assembly, it is likely that the control stick was in this position for some time and was not properly installed during prior maintenance; however, the airplane’s maintenance logbook did not specify when the control stick was last removed.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Control column section › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the flight controls
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,175 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,072 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 13, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 6,229 hours total
- Operator: Aerial Advertising Services
The flight
- Departed from: LVK Livermore CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: LVK Livermore CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07R, 2,699 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Observation at 10:50 pm from KLVK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident site
Photo 2 – Airplane cabin
Photo 3 – Control stick and mounting hardware
Photo 4 – Stick hub assembly and control stick
Photo 5 – Stick hub assembly and control stick
Photo 6 – Accident site
Figure 1-Flight Control Stick and Stick Hub AssemblyThe 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
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2022. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Record of Conversation-faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpt of Maintenance Logs-last Annual | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-piper Aircraft Inc | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array-faa Onsite | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Photo-flight Control Stick Attachment | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8589D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Livermore Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR20LA026.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.