Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 18-150 near Minocqua, WI — 2014-12-07

Final reportCEN15CA071
Sign in to save
Date
2014-12-07
Location
Minocqua, WI, USA
Airport
ARV
Aircraft
PIPER PA 18-150
Registration
N41594
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare when a sudden wind shift occurred.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 18 while the wind was 170 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots. He explained that he attempted a three-point landing instead of a wheel landing because the airplane was equipped with "wheel-penetration skis." During the flare, the pilot observed that snow began blowing directly across the runway just ahead of the airplane. The airplane subsequently drifted to the right. The pilot corrected with rudder and aileron inputs and the airplane still drifted right. He decided to initiate a go-around. As he applied power in an attempted to fly out of the gusting crosswind, the right wing dropped. The ski-equipped right main gear collapsed when it impacted the snow with a side load. The right wing tip then contacted the snow and the airplane sustained substantial wing spar and firewall damage when it cartwheeled on its right wing tip, nose, left wing tip, and then balanced on its nose. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions during the accident flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

Related mishaps