# Accident 20200701008379A: Piper PA-18A 150, Brainerd, MN, July 1, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2020, 11:00 local time
- Place: Brainerd, MN
- Airport: Brainerd Lakes Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.3064° N, 94.1764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3064&lon=-94.1764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7684D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7684D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-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-18A 150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 278 total, 3 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200701008379A

## Narrative

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

2020-07-01 THE PIC SHOWED UP TO KBRD, MET WITH THE OTHER PILOT/CFI BRIEFLY, DID A PREFLIGHT AND DEPARTED FOR LOCAL LANDING PRACTICE. ON THE FLY THE CFI BROUGHT UP LEAVING THE KBRD PATTERN AND LANDING IN THE HAYFIELD BEHIND HIS HOUSE. THE PIC AGREED AND THIS FIELD BECAME THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE PIC WAS IN TOWN FROM GREEN BAY, WI. HE HAD JUST PURCHASED N7684D, A TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT FROM A PARTY IN BRAINERD, MN. THE PIC HIRED A LOCAL CFI TO TRAIN AND ENDORSE HIM FOR THE TAILWHEEL SO THAT HE COULD FLY HIS NEW PURCHASE HOME TO GREEN BAY. IN THE FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE PIC AND CFI PERFORMED THIS TRAINING AND THE PIC RECEIVED HIS TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENT THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS A CONFIDENCE FLIGHT WITH THE CFI NOT OFFICIAL TRAINING.

AFTER HALF A DOZEN LANDINGS AT THE KBRD PAVED AND GRASS RUNWAYS, THE CFI SUGGESTED TO THE PIC TO TRY ONE IN THE HAYFIELD BEHIND HIS HOUSE. THERE IS A NORTH/SOUTH WATER DITCH IN THE CENTER OF THE HAYFIELD YIELDING THE USEFUL LANDING DISTANCE OF THE EAST HALF AT 1350 FT. THE EDGE OF THE FIELD IS LINED WITH MATURE TREES IN THE 50-75 FOOT HEIGHT RANGE. AFTER ONE 300 FT LOW PASS, THE PIC SET UP TO LAND TO THE EAST. THE CFI STATED THEY MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LONG, BUT IT STILL SEEMED OK.  THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, THEN THE PIC EXPRESSED EXPLETIVES LOUDLY ON THE ICS AS THE TREES APPROACHED WITHIN 500 FEET. THE PIC HAD NEVER SEEN TREES BEFORE OFF HIS NOSE LANDING AND STATED HE DID NOT HAVE A GOOD GAUGE FOR HOW FAR THEY WERE, BUT THEY SEEMED CLOSE. THE CFI STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE ICS CALL OUT THE AIRCRAFT INSTANTANEOUSLY FLIPPED AND HE BELIEVED IT WAS FROM THE PIC STEPPING HEAVY ON THE BRAKES.

BOTH PILOTS EGRESSED FROM THE INVERTED AIRCRAFT. THE PIC WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD WHICH HAD HIT THE DASH.  HE WAS GROUND TRANSPORTED FOR A CAT SCAN AND STITCHING OF A 2 INCH GASH. HE WAS MEDICALLY DISCHARGED WITHOUT RESTRICTION.

## 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 CEN20CA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA255), Jul 1, 2020: Piper PA18A-150 (N7684D), Brainerd, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land on a shortened field and his incorrect brake application. Contributing was the flight instructor's lack of oversight.

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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