Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-18-150 near Sierraville, CA — 2012-04-20

Final reportWPR12CA177
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Date
2012-04-20
Location
Sierraville, CA, USA
Airport
O79
Aircraft
PIPER PA-18-150
Registration
N8451Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had just performed two uneventful practice landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. For the third attempt, he performed a three-point landing, and the airplane began to drift left. He countered with full engine power, but the airplane drifted beyond the runway edge. The landing gear then struck a berm, and the airplane bounced into the air, snagging a barbed wire fence. The main landing gear subsequently dug into the earth, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both wings during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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