# Accident 20120205000919A: Piper PA-18, Thedford, NE, February 5, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 5, 2012, 13:30 local time
- Place: Thedford, NE
- Airport: Thomas County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9575° N, 100.5689° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9575&lon=-100.5689&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3671Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3671Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 113 total, 80 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120205000919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL WHEN THE MAIN WHEELS ROLLED OVER A PATCH OF ICE ON THE OTHERWISE DRY RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND HIT A SNOW DRIFT, CAUSING IT TO TURN OVER ONTO ITS BACK.  THE WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS CLEAR; HOWEVER, THERE WAS 8 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW A DAY EARLIER, WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE RUNWAY AND DEPOSITED ON EITHER SIDE.  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURRED WITH A BENT WING SPAR, BENT LIFT STRUTS, CRUSHED VERTICAL SURFACES AS WELL AS A PROP STRIKE AND OBVIOUS TWIST IN THE FUSELAGE.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE IN OCTOBER OF 2011 IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT AND HAS 113 HOURS TOTAL TIME, ALL IN CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRCRAFT, WITH 80 IN THE PA-18.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN12CA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA148), Feb 5, 2012: Piper PA-18 (N3671Z), Thedford, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Other reports on N3671Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19861114078619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861114078619I), Nov 14, 1986: Piper PA18 (N3671Z), Ridgeview, SD, Minor damage. Aircraft hit a snowbank on takeoff which ripped off the left landing ski.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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