Piper PA-18-150 N4153M

Summary

On 1 November 2007 at about 00:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4153M, operated by David A. Kirsten, was involved in an accident near Stockton, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 2007 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Stockton, California, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

38.0664, -121.4083

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4153M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

David A. Kirsten

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stockton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08CA018

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a ditch while taxiing. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and the ditch.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.