Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-18-150 near Carnation, WA — 2010-11-03

Final reportWPR11CA040
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Date
2010-11-03
Location
Carnation, WA, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-18-150
Registration
N4389Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during a practice off-airport landing.

NTSB narrative

During a local area personal flight, the pilot decided to make a practice landing on a gravel bar near the middle of a river. With limited landing distance, the pilot decided to fly his approach at a low airspeed, with the intention of touching down at the very edge of the bar. While on short final, the airplane encountered a downdraft and its main landing gear tires touched the surface of the water, whereupon it flipped over onto its back and came to rest upon the surface of the gravel bar. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. As a result of the accident sequence, the top of the rudder and one lift strut were bent.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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