John Topliff PA18-200EXP N356AW
21 June 2023 · Truckee, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 21 June 2023 at about 23:00 local time, a John Topliff PA18-200EXP registered N356AW was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 23:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Truckee, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Truckee-Tahoe (TRK)
- Coordinates
- 39.3196, -120.1545
- Aircraft
- John Topliff PA18-200EXP
- Registration
- N356AW
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2013
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Oakdale → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR23LA235
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of directional control on landing roll out, during variable wind conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he had been approved by air traffic control (ATC), to enter the traffic pattern for runway 11. On final approach, ATC advised the pilot that the wind had changed, and suggested a straight in approach to land runway 02. The pilot accepted the suggestion and clearance to land runway 02. The airplane touched down on its main landing gear and as the tailwheel settled to the ground, the tail “was pushed around.” The airplane ground looped and came to a stop in the grass beside the runway. Once on the ground, the pilot noticed that multiple windsocks on the airport were displaying different wind directions and suspected the airplane had encountered a strong crosswind. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 2023 | Supernal SUP83-1 | California City, California, United States | Supernal, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Brawley, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 2023 | Cessna 172 | Watsonville, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 2023 | Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & ASH 26 E | Williams, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Bell 407 | Cabazon, California, United States | Air Shasta Rotor & Wing Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Supernal SUP83-1 | California City, California, United States | Supernal LLC | No injuries | - |