PIPER PA-18-150
Sierraville, CA — April 20, 2012
Event Information
| Date | April 20, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR12CA177 |
| Event ID | 20120420X45235 |
| Location | Sierraville, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.58222, -120.35194 |
| Airport | Sierraville |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-18-150 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Full Narrative
The pilot had just performed two uneventful practice landings in the tail-wheel 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, and 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.
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.