# Accident 20151103020079A: Piper PA-18-150, Tecumseh, MI, November 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 3, 2015, 14:42 local time
- Place: Tecumseh, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0250° N, 83.9392° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0250&lon=-83.9392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9029Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9029Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 45,000 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA029) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151103020079A

## Narrative

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

PIC OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE FRONT SEAT AND HAD A PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT.

FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES AND DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL TO DO SOME AIR WORK, STALLS AND LANDINGS AT NEARBY AIRPORTS BEFORE RETURNING TO MYERS DIVER AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 P.M.

ENTERED A DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 27, WHICH IS LEFT TRAFFIC, AND TURNED A SHORT BASE LEG WITH THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON AND FULL FLAPS.

THE APPROACH SPEED WAS 55 MPH AND HE CROSSED THE FENCE AT 53 MPH WITH A TOUCHDOWN AT 43 MPH ON THE MAINS ABOUT 300 FT. BEFORE RUNWAY 18-36.

CROSSED THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE TOOK A LITTLE BOUNCE SO PIC ADDED A LITTLE POWER. THE TAILWHEEL  TOUCHED DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE SHOT OFF 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

PIC ADDED FULL THROTTLE, PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD TO GET THE TAILWHEEL OFF THE GROUND AND ADDED RIGHT RUDDER TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE AIRPLANE AND GET IT PARALLEL TO RUNWAY 27.

ONCE HE GOT IT STRAIGHT  IT STARTED TO CLIMB BUT THEN HIT A DEAD SPOT AND WOULDN?T CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE WANTED TO GO LEFT WITH THE LEFT WING LOW.

PIC WAS LOOKING AT THE TOP OF THE TREES PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND REALIZED THE AIRPLANE WAS MUSHING OUT AND THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO CLEAR THE TREES.

THE AIRSPEED SHOWED 50 MPH AND THE STALL SPEED SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO 40 MPH AT OUR WEIGHT BUT IT JUST WOULDN?T CLIMB.

PIC BROUGHT THE STICK ALL THE WAY BACK AND LEFT FULL THROTTLE BEFORE HITTING THE TREE.

THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE PRODUCING FULL POWER, BUT THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS STILL ON.

## 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 CEN16LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA029), Nov 3, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N9029Y), Tecumseh, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing and his subsequent improper decision to attempt an aborted landing after the airplane had departed the runway.

## Other reports on N9029Y (1)

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

- [Incident 19800823077339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800823077339I), Aug 23, 1980: Piper PA18150 (N9029Y), Oshkosh, WI, Minor damage. Wingtip struck the ground when his wig and hat blew into the pilots eyes during airshow act.

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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