Piper PA 18
Santa Barbara, CA — February 29, 2020
Event Information
| Date | February 29, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR20CA105 |
| Event ID | 20200301X02510 |
| Location | Santa Barbara, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 34.57472, -119.60861 |
| Airport | PRIVATE |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA 18 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in a rapid descent rate, hard landing, and nose-over.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing approach to a ridgeline airstrip, he deployed full wing flaps and descended to the touchdown point. About 15 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a sink that he failed to recognize and arrest. The pilot further remarked that the approach speed was also a little too slow for the unstable air which likely increased the rate of descent. The airplane touched down hard, short of the touchdown point, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The left wing and empennage were substantially damaged.
The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.